Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in South Korea
South Korea: Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) was 4.7 per 1,000 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.7 per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
217th
of 218 countries
All-time high
42.07 per 1,000 people
in 1960
All-time low
4.5 per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Birth rate, crude in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4.7 per 1,000 people for birth rate, crude in 2024.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rate, crude in South Korea peaked at 42.07 per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 4.5 per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places South Korea 217th out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 42.07 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1961 | 40.85 per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 38.97 per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 37.19 per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1964 | 35.17 per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 33.75 per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1966 | 32.79 per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 31.53 per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 30.74 per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 30.32 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 31.2 per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 31.2 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 28.4 per 1,000 people | -9.0% |
| 1973 | 28.3 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 26.6 per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 1975 | 24.8 per 1,000 people | -6.8% |
| 1976 | 22.2 per 1,000 people | -10.5% |
| 1977 | 22.7 per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 20.3 per 1,000 people | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 23 per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1980 | 22.6 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 22.4 per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 21.6 per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 19.3 per 1,000 people | -10.6% |
| 1984 | 16.7 per 1,000 people | -13.5% |
| 1985 | 16.1 per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 15.4 per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 15 per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 15.1 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 15.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 15.2 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 16.4 per 1,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 16.7 per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 16 per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 16 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 15.7 per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 15 per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 14.5 per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 13.7 per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1999 | 13.2 per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 13.5 per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 11.7 per 1,000 people | -13.3% |
| 2002 | 10.3 per 1,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2003 | 10.2 per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 9.8 per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 9 per 1,000 people | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 9.2 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 10.1 per 1,000 people | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 9.4 per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 9 per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 9.4 per 1,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 9.4 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.6 per 1,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 8.6 per 1,000 people | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 8.6 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.6 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.9 per 1,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 7 per 1,000 people | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 6.4 per 1,000 people | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 5.9 per 1,000 people | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 5.3 per 1,000 people | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 5.1 per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 4.9 per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 4.5 per 1,000 people | -8.2% |
| 2024 | 4.7 per 1,000 people | +4.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.7 per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.5 per 1,000 people, 49% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.7 per 1,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.76 per 1,000 people, 30% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35.34 per 1,000 people | 30.32 per 1,000 people | 42.07 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.87 per 1,000 people | 20.3 per 1,000 people | 31.2 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.93 per 1,000 people | 15 per 1,000 people | 22.6 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.24 per 1,000 people | 13.2 per 1,000 people | 16.7 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.22 per 1,000 people | 9 per 1,000 people | 13.5 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.14 per 1,000 people | 5.9 per 1,000 people | 9.6 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9 per 1,000 people | 4.5 per 1,000 people | 5.3 per 1,000 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rate, crude in South Korea?
- Birth rate, crude in South Korea was 4.7 per 1,000 people in 2024, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest birth rate, crude recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.07 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest birth rate, crude recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for birth rate, crude?
- South Korea ranks 217th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is birth rate, crude rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.