The number of births in February was 22,898, the highest for a February in seven years since 2019, the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said on the 25th. Births have increased for 20 consecutive months since July 2024.
According to population trends released that day by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), February births totaled 22,898, up 13.6% (2,747) from February last year (20,151).
An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said, "People who postponed marriage during COVID-19 have been actively marrying over the past three to four years, and as the population in their 30s entering childbearing age has increased, births have been steadily rising."
The total fertility rate in January (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime) was 0.93, up 0.10 from a year earlier. The increase was notable among people in their 30s. Those in the early 30s (30–34) were 86.1, up 9.1 from the same month last year, and those in the late 30s (35–39) were 61.5, up 9.2. Those in the late 20s (25–29) were 23.9, up 1.6, and those 40 and older recorded 5.1, up 0.7.
The number of deaths declined. Deaths in February totaled 29,172, down 3.5% (1,069) from the same month a year earlier (30,241).
The number of marriages in February was 18,557, down 4.2% (811) from the same month a year earlier (19,368). It was the first decline in 23 months. The Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) explained, "Due to the Lunar New Year holidays in February, the number of days available to file marriage registrations decreased." Births and deaths are tallied by date of occurrence, but marriages are tallied by date of registration. The number of divorces in February also fell 15.6% (1,167) to 6,197.