South Korea
Based on the most recent published official birth records (and Birthgap harmonisation where noted).
South Korea continues to experience some of the most pronounced demographic trends worldwide, including a persistent decline in total fertility measures and shifting family size distributions. The country recorded a modest increase in total births in 2024, bucking a longer-term downward trajectory but remaining at historically low levels compared to previous decades. Meanwhile, maternal age rises steadily, while childlessness and one-child motherhood rates remain exceptionally high by global standards.
- Total births increased by 8,303 to 238,317 in 2024, despite a slight decline in total cohort reproduction and fertility indicators compared to 2023.
- Average maternal age rose to 33.2 years, maintaining South Korea's position as the country with the highest maternal age globally.
- Childlessness rate slightly decreased but remains the highest among comparable countries at 55.4%, while one-child families have become more common, rising notably over recent years.
- Completed fertility sunk further to 0.446 children per woman, continuing the long-run decline from 2000s averages near 0.626, reflecting sustained low fertility trends.
In 2024, South Korea exhibited some of the most extreme demographic trends globally, reflecting ultra-low fertility and high childlessness rates.
- Lowest total mothers’ completion rate globally
- Lowest children per mother (1.68) worldwide
- Highest mean age at childbearing (33.2 years)
- Highest childlessness rate internationally
- Shortest societal half-life, indicating rapid population aging
Key fertility indicators — South Korea
| Childlessness Rate (TCR) | 55.4% |
| Birthgap Indicator (TFG) | 63.8% |
| TGI (great-grandchildren per 100 parents) | 5 |
| Total births (latest year) | 238,317 |
Motherhood prevalence (TMR)
Completed fertility among mothers in South Korea stands at 44.6% in 2024, showing a slight increase of 1.2 percentage points from 2023. Over the past five years, the Total Motherhood Rate (TMR) has generally declined, averaging 45.4% between 2020 and 2024. When compared to the 2000s average of 62.6%, this marks a decrease of approximately 18.0 percentage points. South Korea currently holds the lowest TMR level worldwide, ranking 38th out of 38 countries.
| Year | TMR | Year | TMR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 62.7% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 47.9% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 43.4% |
| 2000 | 71.0% | 2024 | 44.6%* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Children per mother (CPM)
In 2024, the average number of children per mother in South Korea stands at 1.68, showing a slight increase of 0.02 from 2023. Despite this recent uptick, the five-year trend reveals a decline, with an average CPM of 1.72 during that period. When compared to the 2000s average of 1.94, the current rate is approximately 0.26 lower. Among 38 countries globally, South Korea registers the lowest CPM value.
| Year | CPM | Year | CPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 1.95 |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 1.75 |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 1.66 |
| 2000 | 2.08 | 2024 | 1.68* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Average maternal age (AMA)
The average maternal age in South Korea reached 33.16 years in 2024, marking a small increase of 0.26 years from 2023. Over the last five years, this figure has been on an upward trend, with a five-year average of 32.67 years. Compared to the 2000s average of 28.61 years, the current maternal age is 4.5 years higher. The three-year period from 2022 to 2024 shows the highest average maternal age at nearly 32.94 years. South Korea stands out globally with the highest average maternal age among 38 countries measured.
| Year | BIRTH | Year | BIRTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 29.77 |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 32.11 |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 32.90 |
| 2000 | 27.55 | 2024 | 33.16* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Birthgap Generational Indicator (TFG)
The Birthgap Generational Indicator (TFG) reached 63.8% in 2024, corresponding to a total fertility rate of 0.75, marking a slight decrease of 1.3 percentage points from the previous year. Over the past five years, this indicator has shown an upward trend, averaging 62.3% between 2020 and 2024. Compared to the early 2000s average of 41.4%, the current level is approximately 22.4 percentage points higher. South Korea's TFG now stands as the highest globally, ranked first out of 38 countries.
| Year | TFG | Year | TFG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 40.9% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 59.5% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 65.1% |
| 2000 | 28.5% | 2024 | 63.8%* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Societal Half-Life (SHL)
South Korea’s SHL stands at 24.0 years years in 2024. It has increased by 1.0 years compared with 2023. Over the past five years, SHL has been falling, averaging 24.6 years. Compared with the 2000s average (40.6 years), SHL is now shorter by about 16.6 years.
Globally, South Korea has the shortest Societal Half-Life (ranked 38/38).
Triple Generation Impact (TGI)
With this Birthgap (TFG) for every 100 people of fertility age in South Korea, there would be 5 great-grandchildren, representing a -95.0% drop from the current generation.
Globally, South Korea has the highest TGI drop (ranked 1/38).
Birth trajectory
If the birth trends observed in 2024 continue, the number of births is expected to decrease significantly over the coming decades. Specifically, total births would drop from 238,317 in 2024 to 119,158 by 2048, representing a 50% reduction. This downward trajectory is projected to persist, with births falling by 75% in 2072 and plunging by 90% to just 23,832 by 2104, assuming migration does not influence these numbers.
Childlessness rate (TCR)
The childlessness rate in South Korea reached 55.4% in 2024, showing a slight decline of 1.2 percentage points from 2023. Over the past five years, this rate has trended upward, averaging 54.6% between 2020 and 2024. When compared to the 2000s average of 37.4%, the current figure is approximately 18.0 percentage points higher. Notably, South Korea holds the highest childlessness rate globally, ranking first among 38 countries.
| Year | TCR | Year | TCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 37.3% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 52.1% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 56.6% |
| 2000 | 29.0% | 2024 | 55.4%* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Total births
South Korea saw 238,317 total births in 2024, marking an increase of 8,303 from the previous year. Despite this rise, the number of births has declined over the last five years, with an average of 250,074 per year during that period. When looking back to the 2000s, the average was significantly higher at 496,617 births annually, meaning that the current figure represents a decrease of 258,300 births, or 52.0%. The recent years 2022 to 2024 include the lowest three-year average of 239,167 births, contrasting sharply with the peak years 2000 to 2002, which averaged 565,566 births.
| Year | Births | Year | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 470.1k |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 272.3k |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 230.0k |
| 2000 | 640.0k | 2024 | 238.3k* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
Birthgap Retirement Indicator (BRI)
By 2024, the Birthgap Retirement Indicator (BRI) in South Korea stands at 72.8%, marking a slight decrease of 1.0 percentage points from 2023. Throughout the past five years from 2020 to 2024, the BRI has exhibited an upward trend, averaging 72.2%. This figure notably surpasses the 2000s average of 30.7% by approximately 42.1 percentage points. Among 35 countries worldwide, this is the highest recorded BRI value.
| Year | BRI | Year | BRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 45.2% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 70.0% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 73.8% |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 72.8%* |
Source: Human Fertility Database. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from KOSIS.
