Birth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Birth rate was 4.57 births per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 4,241 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.72 live births per woman (2023)
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.
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CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.