Annual number of births by world region in South Korea
South Korea: Annual number of births by world region was 236,394 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Annual number of births by world region in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 236,394 for annual number of births by world region in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 45.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of births by world region in South Korea peaked at 1.10 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 236,394, in 2023.
That places South Korea 81st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Annual number of births by world region in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 784,803 | — |
| 1951 | 811,470 | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 842,481 | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 879,007 | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 910,760 | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 942,519 | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 977,327 | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 1.02 million | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 1.05 million | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 1.08 million | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 1.10 million | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 1.10 million | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 1.07 million | -2.3% |
| 1963 | 1.05 million | -2.4% |
| 1964 | 1.01 million | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 988,466 | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 978,557 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 961,491 | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 958,414 | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 965,717 | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 987,604 | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 961,733 | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 928,258 | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 900,511 | -3.0% |
| 1974 | 868,320 | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 838,408 | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 819,505 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 807,976 | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 772,737 | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 823,277 | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 853,589 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 895,271 | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 868,685 | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 790,777 | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 717,482 | -9.3% |
| 1985 | 686,800 | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 667,624 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 656,703 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 657,214 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 663,912 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 684,376 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 729,680 | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 739,339 | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 711,775 | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 704,169 | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 692,785 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 672,524 | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 653,059 | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 624,901 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 607,708 | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 599,446 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 541,042 | -9.7% |
| 2002 | 489,165 | -9.6% |
| 2003 | 472,791 | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 455,459 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 432,815 | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 440,301 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 462,242 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 447,507 | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 437,242 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 449,665 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 455,314 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 460,037 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 433,882 | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 427,701 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 424,787 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 397,938 | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 356,023 | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 322,572 | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 295,280 | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 270,034 | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 259,300 | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 256,588 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 236,394 | -7.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 236,394 is above the median for high income countries, which is 21,434, 11.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 236,394 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30,561, 7.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 929,627 | 784,803 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.02 million | 958,414 | 1.10 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 870,833 | 772,737 | 987,604 | 10 |
| 1980s | 745,806 | 656,703 | 895,271 | 10 |
| 1990s | 682,032 | 607,708 | 739,339 | 10 |
| 2000s | 477,801 | 432,815 | 599,446 | 10 |
| 2010s | 402,320 | 295,280 | 460,037 | 10 |
| 2020s | 255,579 | 236,394 | 270,034 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of births by world region in South Korea?
- Annual number of births by world region in South Korea was 236,394 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of births by world region recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.10 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest annual number of births by world region recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 236,394 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for annual number of births by world region?
- South Korea ranks 81st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual number of births by world region rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual number of births by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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