Birth rate total in South Korea
South Korea: Birth rate total was 14.62 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
14.62
Change on year
down 5.6%
World rank
39th
of 40 countries
All-time high
69.87
in 1982
All-time low
14.62
in 2023
Years of data
43
1981–2023
Birth rate total in South Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rate total in South Korea is 14.62, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.6% on the previous year and down 48.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rate total in South Korea peaked at 69.87 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 14.62, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 39th of 40 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Birth rate total in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 69.29 | — |
| 1982 | 69.87 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 66.22 | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 61.9 | -6.5% |
| 1985 | 55.76 | -9.9% |
| 1986 | 54.55 | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 53.8 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 51.78 | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 55.08 | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 58.81 | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 53.25 | -9.5% |
| 1992 | 51.79 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 51.75 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.9 | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 48.72 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 45.08 | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 43.06 | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 42.1 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 39.48 | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 41.23 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 38.09 | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 32.66 | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 31.03 | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 30.52 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 27.46 | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 27.47 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 30.42 | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 30.61 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 28.75 | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 28.25 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 30.71 | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 28.89 | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 28.29 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 26.25 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 26.59 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 24.91 | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 21.95 | -11.9% |
| 2018 | 20.26 | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 19.03 | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 16.74 | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 15.64 | -6.6% |
| 2022 | 15.49 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 14.62 | -5.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 14.62 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.27, 85% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 14.62 is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.49, 53% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 59.81 | 51.78 | 69.87 | 9 |
| 1990s | 48.39 | 39.48 | 58.81 | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.83 | 27.46 | 41.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.51 | 19.03 | 30.71 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.62 | 14.62 | 16.74 | 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 birth rate total in South Korea?
- Birth rate total in South Korea was 14.62 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rate total recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 69.87 in 1982.
- What is the lowest birth rate total recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.62 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for birth rate total?
- South Korea ranks 39th out of 40 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rate total rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.3%. 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 Birth rate total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).