Annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea
South Korea: Annual birth rate and peak birth month was 4.49 births per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea, 2003–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea is 4.49 births per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.5% on the previous year and down 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea peaked at 10.27 births per 1,000 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.49 births per 1,000 people, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 40th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.57 births per 1,000 people | 8.98 births per 1,000 people | 10.27 births per 1,000 people | 7 |
| 2010s | 8.16 births per 1,000 people | 5.9 births per 1,000 people | 9.65 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.93 births per 1,000 people | 4.49 births per 1,000 people | 5.3 births per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 4,241 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 0.72 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 0.7167 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea?
- Annual birth rate and peak birth month in South Korea was 4.49 births per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual birth rate and peak birth month recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.27 births per 1,000 people in 2003.
- What is the lowest annual birth rate and peak birth month recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.49 births per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for annual birth rate and peak birth month?
- South Korea ranks 40th out of 41 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual birth rate and peak birth month rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual birth rate and peak birth month. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.