Total fertility rate: births per woman in South Korea
South Korea: Total fertility rate: births per woman was 0.722 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total fertility rate: births per woman in South Korea, 2000–2023
Source: Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 0.722 births per woman for total fertility rate: births per woman in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.3% on the previous year and down 39.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate: births per woman in South Korea peaked at 1.48 births per woman in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.722 births per woman, in 2023.
That places South Korea 34th out of 34 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Total fertility rate: births per woman in South Korea, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.48 births per woman | — |
| 2001 | 1.31 births per woman | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 births per woman | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 1.19 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 1.16 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.08 births per woman | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.13 births per woman | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 1.26 births per woman | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1.19 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.15 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 1.22 births per woman | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 1.24 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.29 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.19 births per woman | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 1.2 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.24 births per woman | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.17 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 1.05 births per woman | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 0.978 births per woman | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 0.919 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.838 births per woman | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.809 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.779 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 0.722 births per woman | -7.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.722 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.48 births per woman, 49% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.21 births per woman | 1.08 births per woman | 1.48 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 births per woman | 0.919 births per woman | 1.29 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.787 births per woman | 0.722 births per woman | 0.838 births per woman | 4 |
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: births per woman in South Korea?
- Total fertility rate: births per woman in South Korea was 0.722 births per woman in 2023, according to Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate: births per woman recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 births per woman in 2000.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate: births per woman recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.722 births per woman in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for total fertility rate: births per woman?
- South Korea ranks 34th out of 34 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total fertility rate: births per woman rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate: births per woman. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime if she experienced the fertility rates of a specific year.