Fewer than one child per woman: Korea facing its demographic collapse
South Korea has the lowest fertility in the world. After a low in 2023, births and marriages are edging up again, but the country records more deaths than births every year. What the civil registration statistics say.
Citoyen
Scope: South Korea, Statistics Korea vital statistics (births, total fertility rate and deaths since 1990, marriages since 1994); World Bank for the international comparison and the share of people aged 65 and over.
Key points
Children per woman0.80 children per womanin 2025, after 0.72 children per woman in 2023
Births254,341in 2025, against 649,738 in 1990
Deaths in excess of births108,627in 2025
Share of people 65 and over20.3%in 2025, against 7.1% in 2000
- The lowest fertility in the world. The total fertility rate fell to 0.72 children per woman in 2023, against 1.24 children per woman in 2015 and 1.57 children per woman in 1990. It rose to 0.80 children per woman in 2025, far from the 2.1 children per woman that replace generations.
- A slight rebound in births. After a low of 230,028 in 2023, births rose to 254,341 in 2025, an increase of 10.6%. They remain 61% below 1990.
- More deaths than births. Since 2020, Korea has recorded more deaths than births every year: 362,968 deaths for 254,341 births in 2025, a difference of 108,627.
- Marriages are picking up. 240,300 marriages in 2025, 25% more than at the 2022 low (191,700). In Korea, the vast majority of births take place within marriage: a year’s marriages foreshadow part of the following years’ births.
- Lower than Japan and the OECD. According to the World Bank, Korea has 0.75 children per woman in 2024, against 1.15 children per woman in Japan, 1.48 children per woman on average in the OECD and 2.19 children per woman worldwide. People aged 65 and over make up 20.3% of the population, against 7.1% in 2000.
How to read these figures
The total fertility rate adds up a year’s age-specific fertility rates: it is the number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if those rates stayed constant. At around 2.1 children per woman, each generation replaces the previous one. Births, deaths and marriages are the civil registration figures published by Statistics Korea on the national indicator portal.
To compare Korea with other countries, the dossier uses the World Bank (UN Population Division estimates), whose latest year may differ by one from the Korean statistics. The share of people aged 65 and over comes from the same source.
1. Fertility
Korean fertility fell for thirty years, dropping below one child per woman in 2018. It has been edging up since 2024.
Total fertility rate
Children per woman. Dotted line: 2.1, the replacement level.
Source:Statistics Korea (e-나라지표)
Show the chart data
| Period | Children per woman |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.57 children per woman |
| 1991 | 1.71 children per woman |
| 1992 | 1.76 children per woman |
| 1993 | 1.65 children per woman |
| 1994 | 1.66 children per woman |
| 1995 | 1.63 children per woman |
| 1996 | 1.57 children per woman |
| 1997 | 1.54 children per woman |
| 1998 | 1.46 children per woman |
| 1999 | 1.43 children per woman |
| 2000 | 1.48 children per woman |
| 2001 | 1.31 children per woman |
| 2002 | 1.18 children per woman |
| 2003 | 1.19 children per woman |
| 2004 | 1.16 children per woman |
| 2005 | 1.09 children per woman |
| 2006 | 1.13 children per woman |
| 2007 | 1.26 children per woman |
| 2008 | 1.19 children per woman |
| 2009 | 1.15 children per woman |
| 2010 | 1.23 children per woman |
| 2011 | 1.24 children per woman |
| 2012 | 1.30 children per woman |
| 2013 | 1.19 children per woman |
| 2014 | 1.21 children per woman |
| 2015 | 1.24 children per woman |
| 2016 | 1.17 children per woman |
| 2017 | 1.05 children per woman |
| 2018 | 0.98 children per woman |
| 2019 | 0.92 children per woman |
| 2020 | 0.84 children per woman |
| 2021 | 0.81 children per woman |
| 2022 | 0.78 children per woman |
| 2023 | 0.72 children per woman |
| 2024 | 0.75 children per woman |
| 2025 | 0.80 children per woman |
Fertility: Korea, Japan, OECD and world
Children per woman, World Bank. Latest common year: 2024.
- World
- OECD
- Japan
- South Korea
Source:World Bank (UN Population Division)
Show the chart data
| Period | South Korea | Japan | OECD | World |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.57 children per woman | 1.54 children per woman | 2.01 children per woman | 3.31 children per woman |
| 1991 | 1.71 children per woman | 1.53 children per woman | 1.99 children per woman | 3.13 children per woman |
| 1992 | 1.76 children per woman | 1.50 children per woman | 1.96 children per woman | 3.04 children per woman |
| 1993 | 1.65 children per woman | 1.46 children per woman | 1.93 children per woman | 2.97 children per woman |
| 1994 | 1.66 children per woman | 1.50 children per woman | 1.91 children per woman | 2.92 children per woman |
| 1995 | 1.63 children per woman | 1.42 children per woman | 1.87 children per woman | 2.87 children per woman |
| 1996 | 1.57 children per woman | 1.43 children per woman | 1.85 children per woman | 2.82 children per woman |
| 1997 | 1.54 children per woman | 1.39 children per woman | 1.84 children per woman | 2.78 children per woman |
| 1998 | 1.46 children per woman | 1.38 children per woman | 1.83 children per woman | 2.75 children per woman |
| 1999 | 1.43 children per woman | 1.34 children per woman | 1.82 children per woman | 2.72 children per woman |
| 2000 | 1.48 children per woman | 1.36 children per woman | 1.83 children per woman | 2.73 children per woman |
| 2001 | 1.31 children per woman | 1.33 children per woman | 1.80 children per woman | 2.69 children per woman |
| 2002 | 1.18 children per woman | 1.32 children per woman | 1.78 children per woman | 2.66 children per woman |
| 2003 | 1.19 children per woman | 1.29 children per woman | 1.79 children per woman | 2.64 children per woman |
| 2004 | 1.16 children per woman | 1.29 children per woman | 1.79 children per woman | 2.63 children per woman |
| 2005 | 1.09 children per woman | 1.26 children per woman | 1.78 children per woman | 2.61 children per woman |
| 2006 | 1.13 children per woman | 1.32 children per woman | 1.81 children per woman | 2.61 children per woman |
| 2007 | 1.26 children per woman | 1.34 children per woman | 1.83 children per woman | 2.60 children per woman |
| 2008 | 1.19 children per woman | 1.37 children per woman | 1.83 children per woman | 2.60 children per woman |
| 2009 | 1.15 children per woman | 1.37 children per woman | 1.80 children per woman | 2.59 children per woman |
| 2010 | 1.23 children per woman | 1.39 children per woman | 1.79 children per woman | 2.57 children per woman |
| 2011 | 1.24 children per woman | 1.39 children per woman | 1.77 children per woman | 2.55 children per woman |
| 2012 | 1.30 children per woman | 1.41 children per woman | 1.77 children per woman | 2.56 children per woman |
| 2013 | 1.19 children per woman | 1.43 children per woman | 1.75 children per woman | 2.53 children per woman |
| 2014 | 1.21 children per woman | 1.42 children per woman | 1.75 children per woman | 2.52 children per woman |
| 2015 | 1.24 children per woman | 1.45 children per woman | 1.74 children per woman | 2.49 children per woman |
| 2016 | 1.17 children per woman | 1.44 children per woman | 1.73 children per woman | 2.49 children per woman |
| 2017 | 1.05 children per woman | 1.43 children per woman | 1.69 children per woman | 2.46 children per woman |
| 2018 | 0.98 children per woman | 1.42 children per woman | 1.67 children per woman | 2.39 children per woman |
| 2019 | 0.92 children per woman | 1.36 children per woman | 1.63 children per woman | 2.35 children per woman |
| 2020 | 0.84 children per woman | 1.33 children per woman | 1.58 children per woman | 2.28 children per woman |
| 2021 | 0.81 children per woman | 1.30 children per woman | 1.59 children per woman | 2.25 children per woman |
| 2022 | 0.78 children per woman | 1.26 children per woman | 1.55 children per woman | 2.22 children per woman |
| 2023 | 0.72 children per woman | 1.20 children per woman | 1.49 children per woman | 2.20 children per woman |
| 2024 | 0.75 children per woman | 1.15 children per woman | 1.48 children per woman | 2.19 children per woman |
2. Births and deaths
Births have more than halved since 1990, while deaths rose with ageing. The curves crossed in 2020.
Births and deaths each year
Number of live births and deaths recorded by civil registration.
- Deaths
- Births
Source:Statistics Korea (e-나라지표)
Show the chart data
| Period | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 649,738 | 241,616 |
| 1991 | 709,275 | 242,270 |
| 1992 | 730,678 | 236,162 |
| 1993 | 715,826 | 234,257 |
| 1994 | 721,185 | 242,439 |
| 1995 | 715,020 | 242,838 |
| 1996 | 691,226 | 241,149 |
| 1997 | 675,394 | 244,693 |
| 1998 | 641,594 | 245,825 |
| 1999 | 620,668 | 247,734 |
| 2000 | 640,089 | 248,740 |
| 2001 | 559,934 | 243,813 |
| 2002 | 496,911 | 247,524 |
| 2003 | 495,036 | 246,463 |
| 2004 | 476,958 | 246,220 |
| 2005 | 438,707 | 245,874 |
| 2006 | 451,759 | 244,162 |
| 2007 | 496,822 | 246,482 |
| 2008 | 465,892 | 246,113 |
| 2009 | 444,849 | 246,942 |
| 2010 | 470,171 | 255,405 |
| 2011 | 471,265 | 257,396 |
| 2012 | 484,550 | 267,221 |
| 2013 | 436,455 | 266,257 |
| 2014 | 435,435 | 267,692 |
| 2015 | 438,420 | 275,895 |
| 2016 | 406,243 | 280,827 |
| 2017 | 357,771 | 285,534 |
| 2018 | 326,822 | 298,820 |
| 2019 | 302,676 | 295,110 |
| 2020 | 272,337 | 304,948 |
| 2021 | 260,562 | 317,680 |
| 2022 | 249,186 | 372,939 |
| 2023 | 230,028 | 352,511 |
| 2024 | 238,317 | 358,569 |
| 2025 | 254,341 | 362,968 |
Natural change (births minus deaths)
Negative since 2020: the population now grows only through migration.
Source:Statistics Korea (e-나라지표)
Show the chart data
| Period | Natural change |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 408,122 |
| 1991 | 467,005 |
| 1992 | 494,516 |
| 1993 | 481,569 |
| 1994 | 478,746 |
| 1995 | 472,182 |
| 1996 | 450,077 |
| 1997 | 430,701 |
| 1998 | 395,769 |
| 1999 | 372,934 |
| 2000 | 391,349 |
| 2001 | 316,121 |
| 2002 | 249,387 |
| 2003 | 248,573 |
| 2004 | 230,738 |
| 2005 | 192,833 |
| 2006 | 207,597 |
| 2007 | 250,340 |
| 2008 | 219,779 |
| 2009 | 197,907 |
| 2010 | 214,766 |
| 2011 | 213,869 |
| 2012 | 217,329 |
| 2013 | 170,198 |
| 2014 | 167,743 |
| 2015 | 162,525 |
| 2016 | 125,416 |
| 2017 | 72,237 |
| 2018 | 28,002 |
| 2019 | 7,566 |
| 2020 | −32,611 |
| 2021 | −57,118 |
| 2022 | −123,753 |
| 2023 | −122,483 |
| 2024 | −120,252 |
| 2025 | −108,627 |
3. Marriages
The number of marriages fell steeply until 2022, then turned up again.
Marriages each year
Number of marriages registered. Latest year: 2025, 240,300.
Source:Statistics Korea (e-나라지표)
Show the chart data
| Period | Marriages |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 393,100 |
| 1995 | 398,500 |
| 1996 | 434,900 |
| 1997 | 389,000 |
| 1998 | 373,500 |
| 1999 | 360,400 |
| 2000 | 332,100 |
| 2001 | 318,400 |
| 2002 | 304,900 |
| 2003 | 302,500 |
| 2004 | 308,600 |
| 2005 | 314,300 |
| 2006 | 330,600 |
| 2007 | 343,600 |
| 2008 | 327,700 |
| 2009 | 309,800 |
| 2010 | 326,100 |
| 2011 | 329,100 |
| 2012 | 327,100 |
| 2013 | 322,800 |
| 2014 | 305,500 |
| 2015 | 302,800 |
| 2016 | 281,600 |
| 2017 | 264,500 |
| 2018 | 257,600 |
| 2019 | 239,200 |
| 2020 | 213,500 |
| 2021 | 192,500 |
| 2022 | 191,700 |
| 2023 | 193,700 |
| 2024 | 222,400 |
| 2025 | 240,300 |
4. Ageing
Fewer births and a high life expectancy: the share of older people is rising faster in Korea than on average in the OECD.
Share of people aged 65 and over in the population
%, World Bank. In 2025: 20.3% in Korea, 30.0% in Japan, 19.0% in the OECD.
- World
- OECD
- Japan
- South Korea
Source:World Bank (UN Population Division)
Show the chart data
| Period | South Korea | Japan | OECD | World |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.9% | 12.2% | 11.3% | 6.1% |
| 1991 | 5.0% | 12.6% | 11.5% | 6.1% |
| 1992 | 5.2% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 6.2% |
| 1993 | 5.4% | 13.6% | 11.7% | 6.3% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | 14.1% | 11.9% | 6.4% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | 14.7% | 12.0% | 6.5% |
| 1996 | 6.0% | 15.2% | 12.1% | 6.5% |
| 1997 | 6.2% | 15.8% | 12.3% | 6.6% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | 16.3% | 12.4% | 6.7% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | 16.9% | 12.5% | 6.8% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | 17.4% | 12.7% | 6.8% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | 18.0% | 12.8% | 6.9% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | 18.6% | 13.0% | 7.0% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | 19.1% | 13.1% | 7.1% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | 19.6% | 13.3% | 7.2% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | 20.3% | 13.5% | 7.3% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | 21.0% | 13.7% | 7.3% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | 21.6% | 13.8% | 7.4% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | 22.3% | 14.0% | 7.5% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | 22.8% | 14.2% | 7.5% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | 23.1% | 14.4% | 7.6% |
| 2011 | 11.4% | 23.7% | 14.6% | 7.7% |
| 2012 | 11.7% | 24.5% | 14.9% | 7.8% |
| 2013 | 12.1% | 25.4% | 15.2% | 7.9% |
| 2014 | 12.5% | 26.2% | 15.5% | 8.1% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | 26.9% | 15.8% | 8.3% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | 27.5% | 16.1% | 8.4% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | 28.0% | 16.4% | 8.7% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | 28.3% | 16.7% | 8.9% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | 28.6% | 17.0% | 9.1% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | 28.9% | 17.3% | 9.3% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | 29.2% | 17.6% | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 17.5% | 29.4% | 17.9% | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 18.3% | 29.6% | 18.2% | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 19.3% | 29.8% | 18.6% | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 20.3% | 30.0% | 19.0% | 10.4% |
What we know, what we don’t
What the figures establish
- South Korea has the lowest fertility in the OECD and among the lowest in the world.
- The country has recorded more deaths than births since 2020.
- Births and marriages have edged up since 2024.
What they don’t tell
- Whether the rebound will last: it may reflect births postponed after the pandemic and slightly larger cohorts of people in their thirties.
- The effect of public support for births: these series do not measure the effect of policies.
- The causes of low fertility (housing, jobs, education, working hours): these series do not measure them.
Sources
Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.
- Statistics Korea (e-나라지표) Births, total fertility rate and deaths (table 1011); marriages (table 1580)
- World Bank (UN Population Division) Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (SP.DYN.TFRT.IN)
- World Bank (UN Population Division) Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS)