Fertility in South Korea up: The birth rate in South Korea, the lowest in the world, increased in 2024 for the first time in nine years, says Reuters. What happened? It turns out that More couples were married after pandemic turbulence. In addition, efforts aimed at encouraging companies and Koreans to parenthood They begin to bring results.
A year after almost a decade: According to the Korean statistical office, in 2023 the fertility was at 0.72, but already Last year there was an increase to 0.75. The largest value of the birth rate was in 2015, at that time was 1.24. For comparison, in Poland it is 1.12, but we are still in the tail of Europe. Several years ago It was almost 1.5.
Bit bonuses for a child: One of the Korean mothers tells Reuters that it is “The culture of companies encourages giving birth to children and brings great benefits.” Her employer, Booyoung, has been paying 100 million to its employees since last year wonThat is approx. 70,000 dollars as a child's birth bonuses. The owner of the Booyoung is the controversial billionaire Lee Jong-keun, who thus cares for the natural increase in South Korea.
Turning point: And the rate is high because The demographic crisis has become the greatest risk for the development of the fourth largest Asia economy and her social care system. According to forecasts, the country's population, of 51 million people, will decrease by half by the end of this century. Koreans have not wanted to give birth to children so far because of, among others Rising costs of apartments and educating offspringin addition, they submitted professional promotion over marriage and parenthood – explains the Reuters agency. – There is a high probability of further growth of the fertility rate in the coming years, and we are at a turning point – says You Hye -Mi, secretary of the President for Demographic Policy.
Japan at reverse: Meanwhile, Japan is experiencing a lot of demographic problems at the same time. The number of children born in this country has fallen For a record low level – 720 988 in 2024. The decline is recorded the ninth year in a row. There Ministry of Health indicates fast Aging of society and the decrease in the population. The number of births dropped by 5 percent. per year.
See also: Demography problem. More on this subject in the text “Slope..
Source: Reuters