South Korea's Births Rise for 16th Straight Month, But Demographic Crisis Looms Large

For 16 consecutive months, South Korea has reported a rise in newborns, a rare glimmer of hope for a nation grappling with the world's lowest fertility rate. Yet, beneath the surface of this positive streak, a more sobering demographic reality persists. According to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 21,958 babies were born in October 2025, a 2.5% increase from the same month last year.

A Fragile Rebound

The streak marks the 16th straight month of year-on-year increases since July 2024. However, the 2.5% growth in October was the slowest recorded this year, signaling a potential loss of momentum. While the cumulative number of births through October, at 212,998, was up 6.5%—the highest growth rate for that period since 1991—the absolute number remains critically low. The total for the first 10 months was the third lowest on record, trailing only the historic lows of 2024 and 2023.

Marriages Up, But Population Shrinks

A leading indicator for births, the number of marriages, also showed some positive signs. 19,586 couples tied the knot in October, up 0.2% year-on-year, and the 195,764 marriages reported in the first ten months marked a seven-year high. Despite these gains, South Korea's overall population continued its decline, a trend that began in November 2019. With 29,739 deaths reported in October, the country saw a net loss of 7,781 people.

The Shadow of a 0.81 Fertility Rate

The country's total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime—inched up by 0.02 from the previous year to 0.81. This figure remains dangerously below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. The highest birthrate was observed among women aged 30 to 34, according to the agency.