South Korea Sees Rise in Births and Marriages Amid Changing Attitudes

South Korea is showing signs of demographic recovery, with both births and marriages increasing in July—a rare uptick for a country long grappling with one of the world’s lowest fertility rates.

Statistics Korea reported 21,803 births in July, up 5.9% from a year earlier and the highest July total since 2021. Births have now grown year-over-year for 13 consecutive months, with 147,804 recorded from January to July, a 7.2% increase from last year. The country’s total fertility rate edged up to 0.80.

Marriages also rose, hitting 20,394 in July—an 8.4% increase and the highest July figure in nine years. Marriages have grown for 16 straight months.

Officials credited the rise to a larger population of women in their early 30s, expanded government and local subsidies, and changing social attitudes toward family life.

A recent survey by the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy found that 62.6% of unmarried men and women now view marriage positively, up from 55.9% in March 2023. The share intending to marry also climbed to 64.5%, with women surpassing 50% for the first time.

Attitudes toward children are shifting as well. The proportion of singles who said children are “necessary” jumped from 50% last year to 61.2%. Among men aged 25-29, the figure rose to 77.3%, and for women it increased to 52%.

Respondents called for more equal financial support, assistance for married couples without children, and help for unmarried youth. Authorities said these changing perceptions will help shape South Korea’s future population strategy.