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