South Korea-Japan birth rate at all-time low – 2024-02-29 19:01:27

South Korea’s birth rate has fallen to an all-time low. The country’s government announced this information on Wednesday (February 28). Despite various initiatives to increase the birth rate, the birth rate in the country has fallen to a record level.

South Korea’s birth rate will drop to 0.72 percent in 2023, according to preliminary data from South Korea’s official statistics. Which is about eight percent less than the previous year. But to maintain the current population of 50 million and 10 million, 2.1 percent child birth is required.

If the current fertility rate continues, South Korea’s population will drop to 26.8 million by 2100. In 2023, 230,000 new children were born in the country. This number is 19 thousand 200 less than the previous year. The South Korean government is spending tens of billions of dollars to encourage childbearing. Yet the number of babies born in 2023 is the lowest since 1970.

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In this context, experts say, there are multiple reasons behind not having children. Notable among these are the high cost of raising children, rising property prices and the uncertainty of a well-paying job in a highly competitive society.

Meanwhile, Japan, another Pacific country, is in a similar situation. The country’s child birth rate has declined dramatically for eight consecutive years. Among them, Japan’s birth rate has fallen the most in the last year. Even, the marriage rate has decreased in the country.

Preliminary data released by the Japanese government on Tuesday (February 27) showed that the country’s birth rate fell by a record 5.1 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023, 7 lakh 58 thousand 631 children were born in the country. On the other hand, there were 4 lakh 89 thousand 281 marriages in the country in 2023, which is 5.9 percent less than the previous year.

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The country’s government says the number of annual marriages in Japan has fallen below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years. In such a situation, there is a fear that the country’s population will decrease further. Because out-of-wedlock births are very rare in Japan.

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that urgent measures to deal with the declining birth rate are very important and now is the right time. If action is not taken now, it will be too late.

The Japanese government is giving various incentives to the people to increase the birth rate. They have also announced to give various benefits including cash if they have more children. But raising children in the country is so expensive that many do not want to have children.

Source: France24

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