Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea
South Korea: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 0.748 births per woman in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.748 births per woman
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
214th
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.99 births per woman
in 1960
All-time low
0.721 births per woman
in 2023
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea stood at 0.748 births per woman.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea peaked at 5.99 births per woman in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.721 births per woman, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 214th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.99 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 5.8 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 5.56 births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.33 births per woman | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 5.07 births per woman | -5.0% |
| 1965 | 4.89 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 4.78 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 4.62 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 4.51 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.45 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 4.53 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 4.54 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 4.12 births per woman | -9.3% |
| 1973 | 4.07 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 3.77 births per woman | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 3.43 births per woman | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 3 births per woman | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 2.99 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.64 births per woman | -11.7% |
| 1979 | 2.9 births per woman | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 2.82 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.57 births per woman | -8.9% |
| 1982 | 2.39 births per woman | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.06 births per woman | -13.8% |
| 1984 | 1.74 births per woman | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.66 births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.58 births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.53 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.55 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.71 births per woman | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 1.76 births per woman | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.65 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.66 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.63 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.57 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.54 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.46 births per woman | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.43 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.48 births per woman | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.31 births per woman | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 births per woman | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 1.19 births per woman | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.16 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.08 births per woman | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.13 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.26 births per woman | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1.19 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.15 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.23 births per woman | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 1.24 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.3 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.19 births per woman | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.21 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.24 births per woman | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.17 births per woman | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 1.05 births per woman | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 0.977 births per woman | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 0.918 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.837 births per woman | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.808 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.778 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 0.721 births per woman | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 0.748 births per woman | +3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.748 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 52% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.748 births per woman is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.12 births per woman, 35% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.1 births per woman | 4.45 births per woman | 5.99 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6 births per woman | 2.64 births per woman | 4.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.95 births per woman | 1.53 births per woman | 2.82 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman | 1.76 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.21 births per woman | 1.08 births per woman | 1.48 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 births per woman | 0.918 births per woman | 1.3 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7784 births per woman | 0.721 births per woman | 0.837 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.1882 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in South Korea was 0.748 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.99 births per woman in 1960.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.721 births per woman in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- South Korea ranks 214th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.