Fertility vs contraception in South Korea
South Korea: Fertility vs contraception was 0.748 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.748
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
214th
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.99
in 1960
All-time low
0.721
in 2023
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility vs contraception in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, fertility vs contraception in South Korea stood at 0.748.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility vs contraception in South Korea peaked at 5.99 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.721, 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.
Fertility vs contraception in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.99 | — |
| 1961 | 5.8 | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 5.56 | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.33 | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 5.07 | -5.0% |
| 1965 | 4.89 | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 4.78 | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 4.62 | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 4.51 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.45 | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 4.53 | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 4.54 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 4.12 | -9.3% |
| 1973 | 4.07 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 3.77 | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 3.43 | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 3 | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 2.99 | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.64 | -11.7% |
| 1979 | 2.9 | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 2.82 | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.57 | -8.9% |
| 1982 | 2.39 | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.06 | -13.8% |
| 1984 | 1.74 | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.66 | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.58 | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.53 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.55 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.71 | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 1.76 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.65 | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.66 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.63 | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.57 | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.54 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.46 | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.43 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.48 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.31 | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 1.19 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.16 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.08 | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.13 | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.26 | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1.19 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.15 | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.23 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 1.24 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.3 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.19 | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.21 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.24 | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.17 | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 1.05 | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 0.977 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 0.918 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.837 | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.808 | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.778 | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 0.721 | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 0.748 | +3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.748 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45, 52% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.748 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.12, 35% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.1 | 4.45 | 5.99 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6 | 2.64 | 4.54 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.95 | 1.53 | 2.82 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6 | 1.43 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.21 | 1.08 | 1.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 | 0.918 | 1.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7784 | 0.721 | 0.837 | 5 |
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 fertility vs contraception in South Korea?
- Fertility vs contraception in South Korea was 0.748 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility vs contraception recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.99 in 1960.
- What is the lowest fertility vs contraception recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.721 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for fertility vs contraception?
- South Korea ranks 214th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility vs contraception 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility vs contraception. 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).