Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (Fertility World Population) in South Korea
South Korea: Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (Fertility World Population) was 0.748 births per woman in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.748 births per woman
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
217th
of 218 countries
All-time high
5.99 births per woman
in 1960
All-time low
0.721 births per woman
in 2023
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility rate, total in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, fertility rate, total in South Korea stood at 0.748 births per woman.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in South Korea peaked at 5.99 births per woman in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.721 births per woman, 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.
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (Fertility World Population) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.99 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 5.8 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 5.56 births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.33 births per woman | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 5.07 births per woman | -5.0% |
| 1965 | 4.89 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 4.78 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 4.62 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 4.51 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.45 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 4.53 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 4.54 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 4.12 births per woman | -9.3% |
| 1973 | 4.07 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 3.77 births per woman | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 3.43 births per woman | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 3 births per woman | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 2.99 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.64 births per woman | -11.7% |
| 1979 | 2.9 births per woman | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 2.82 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.57 births per woman | -8.9% |
| 1982 | 2.39 births per woman | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.06 births per woman | -13.8% |
| 1984 | 1.74 births per woman | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.66 births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.58 births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.53 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.55 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.71 births per woman | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 1.76 births per woman | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.65 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.66 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.63 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.57 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.54 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.46 births per woman | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.43 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.48 births per woman | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.31 births per woman | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 births per woman | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 1.19 births per woman | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.16 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.08 births per woman | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.13 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.26 births per woman | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1.19 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.15 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.23 births per woman | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 1.24 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.3 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.19 births per woman | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.21 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.24 births per woman | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.17 births per woman | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 1.05 births per woman | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 0.977 births per woman | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 0.918 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.837 births per woman | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.808 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.778 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 0.721 births per woman | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 0.748 births per woman | +3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.748 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 52% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.748 births per woman is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.12 births per woman, 35% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.1 births per woman | 4.45 births per woman | 5.99 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6 births per woman | 2.64 births per woman | 4.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.95 births per woman | 1.53 births per woman | 2.82 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman | 1.76 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.21 births per woman | 1.08 births per woman | 1.48 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 births per woman | 0.918 births per woman | 1.3 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7784 births per woman | 0.721 births per woman | 0.837 births per woman | 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 fertility rate, total in South Korea?
- Fertility rate, total in South Korea was 0.748 births per woman in 2024, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.99 births per woman in 1960.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.721 births per woman in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for fertility rate, total?
- South Korea ranks 217th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.9%. 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 Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.