The growth rate of newborns in April recorded its highest level in 34 years.
According to the 'April demographic trends' released by the Statistics Korea, the number of newborns in April this year is 20,717, which is an 8.7% (1,658) increase compared to the same period last year. The growth rate for April is the highest since 1991.
However, the number of newborns itself is not high. The number of newborns in April this year is the third smallest on record, following 2023 (18,515) and 2024 (19,059).
The total fertility rate, which refers to the number of children a couple is expected to have over their lifetime, is 0.79, an increase of 0.06 from April last year. Monthly totals for the total fertility rate began this year and have risen for four consecutive months compared to the same month last year.
By region, the number of newborns increased in all regions of the country except Jeju (268 → 263). Seoul grew from 3,378 to 3,819, Busan increased from 1,071 to 1,123, and Daegu rose from 804 to 889.
Statistics Korea analyzed that "the increase in marriages and the growth of women in their early 30s seem to be contributing to the rise in the number of newborns."
The number of marriages in April increased by 4.9% (884) to 18,921 compared to the same period last year. It rose in 11 regions, including Seoul and Busan, while it decreased in six regions, including Daegu and North Chungcheong.
Additionally, the number of deaths in April was 28,785, an increase of 0.8% (225) compared to the same month last year. The number of deaths increased in 11 regions, including Busan and Daegu, while it decreased in six regions, including Seoul and Sejong.
The number of divorces in April was recorded at 7,299, a decrease of 5.2% (402) from a year ago. The numbers increased in four regions, including Daejeon and Ulsan, but decreased in 13 regions, including Seoul and Busan.
With the number of deaths surpassing the number of newborns, the population in April naturally decreased by 8,068. This marks 66 consecutive months of natural decrease since November 2019.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic movers in May was 473,000, a decrease of 4.9% compared to the same month last year. In the metropolitan area, people moved out of Seoul, which saw a population decrease of 3,657 last month.
Busan (-1,014) and Gwangju (-755) also experienced more outflows than inflows. In contrast, Incheon (3,237), Gyeonggi (3,205), and South Chungcheong (687) saw population increases.
The population mobility rate, which indicates the number of movers per 100 people, is 10.9%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from a year ago.