Birth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Birth rate was 4.57 births per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.57 births per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 7.8%
World rank
235th
of 236 countries
All-time high
42.96 births per 1,000 people
in 1957
All-time low
4.57 births per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rate in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rate in South Korea is 4.57 births per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 47.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rate in South Korea peaked at 42.96 births per 1,000 people in 1957 and was at its lowest, 4.57 births per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places South Korea 235th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Birth rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | births per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 39.72 births per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 40.84 births per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1952 | 41.65 births per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 42.31 births per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1954 | 42.53 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 42.6 births per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 42.73 births per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 42.96 births per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1958 | 42.95 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1959 | 42.7 births per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 42.07 births per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1961 | 40.85 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 38.97 births per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 37.19 births per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1964 | 35.17 births per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 33.75 births per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1966 | 32.79 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 31.53 births per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 30.74 births per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 30.32 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 30.35 births per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 28.93 births per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 27.35 births per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 26.01 births per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 24.61 births per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 23.37 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 22.53 births per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 21.93 births per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 20.73 births per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 21.83 births per 1,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 22.38 births per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 23.14 births per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 22.07 births per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 19.77 births per 1,000 people | -10.4% |
| 1984 | 17.67 births per 1,000 people | -10.6% |
| 1985 | 16.69 births per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 16 births per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 15.52 births per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 15.31 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 15.25 births per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 15.53 births per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 16.42 births per 1,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 16.56 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 15.86 births per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 15.6 births per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 15.27 births per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 14.74 births per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 14.21 births per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 13.52 births per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 13.07 births per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 12.82 births per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 11.5 births per 1,000 people | -10.3% |
| 2002 | 10.34 births per 1,000 people | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 9.95 births per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 9.55 births per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 9.04 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 9.17 births per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 9.59 births per 1,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 9.25 births per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 9.01 births per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 9.22 births per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 9.27 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 9.28 births per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 8.66 births per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 8.46 births per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 8.33 births per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 7.76 births per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 6.92 births per 1,000 people | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 6.25 births per 1,000 people | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 5.7 births per 1,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 5.21 births per 1,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 5 births per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 4.96 births per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 4.57 births per 1,000 people | -7.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.57 births per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.6 births per 1,000 people, 48% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.57 births per 1,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.94 births per 1,000 people, 29% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.1 births per 1,000 people | 39.72 births per 1,000 people | 42.96 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.34 births per 1,000 people | 30.32 births per 1,000 people | 42.07 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.76 births per 1,000 people | 20.73 births per 1,000 people | 30.35 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.38 births per 1,000 people | 15.25 births per 1,000 people | 23.14 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.08 births per 1,000 people | 13.07 births per 1,000 people | 16.56 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.02 births per 1,000 people | 9.01 births per 1,000 people | 12.82 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.98 births per 1,000 people | 5.7 births per 1,000 people | 9.28 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.93 births per 1,000 people | 4.57 births per 1,000 people | 5.21 births per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 232 Hong Kong 5.55 births per 1,000 people compare
- 233 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5.23 births per 1,000 people compare
- 234 Saint Barthelemy 4.82 births per 1,000 people compare
- 236 Vatican 4.21 births per 1,000 people compare
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 birth rate in South Korea?
- Birth rate in South Korea was 4.57 births per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.96 births per 1,000 people in 1957.
- What is the lowest birth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.57 births per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for birth rate?
- South Korea ranks 235th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.