The number of births last year rose 6.7% from a year earlier, the biggest increase in 15 years. The growth rate was the highest in 18 years since 2007, and the total fertility rate rebounded for the second straight year to 0.80.
According to the "2025 birth statistics" the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) released on the 26th, the number of births last year was 254,300, up 16,000 (6.7%) from the previous year. The increase from a year earlier was the largest in 15 years since 2010 (25,322). The growth rate was the fourth highest on record since statistics began in 1981, and the highest in 18 years since 2007 (10.0%).
The total fertility rate was 0.80, up 0.05 from a year earlier. It rose from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.75 in 2024 and climbed for the second straight year. The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her childbearing years (ages 15 to 49). Age-specific fertility rates increased across all age groups in their 20s and older. In particular, the fertility rate for the late 30s was 52.1, the highest since statistics began in 1981, and the early 40s also hit a record high of 8.5. The fertility rate for the late 20s was 21.2, rising for the first time since 2007.
An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said, "The trend of increasing marriages is continuing, and the flow of marriages leading to childbirth is continuing," adding, "An increase in the population of women of childbearing age, mainly in the early 30s, and a more positive perception of marriage are the main reasons for the rebound in the birth rate."
By birth order, firstborns totaled 158,700 last year, up 8.6% (12,600) from the previous year. Second-borns increased 4.4% to 79,200. Third-borns and above also rose 0.5%. Firstborns accounted for 62.4% of all births, up 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier. An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) explained, "Marriage has the greatest impact on first births, and this reflects the recent trend of increasing marriages." The average length of marriage until the first child was 2.4 years, and the share of couples having their first child within two years of marriage was 53.2%, up 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier.
Births outside marriage rose slightly, but their share of all births fell to 5.5%, down 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier. An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said, "Births outside marriage themselves increased by about 200, but births within legal marriage rose by far more," adding, "It can also be inferred that marriage registrations have been actively filed recently." The share of multiple births (twins) rose 0.4 percentage points to 6.1%, topping 6% for the first time. Multiple births totaled 15,500, up 2,000 from a year earlier.
The increase in births has continued this year. In Jun. 2026, the number of births was 23,111, up 15.6% (3,115) from the same month a year earlier. The increase in births was the largest in 34 years since 1992 (3,666), and the growth rate was 15.6%, the highest for June since statistics began. Cumulative births from January to June totaled 145,804, up 15.4% from the same period a year earlier. The number of births has increased year over year for 24 consecutive months since Jul. 2024.
Marriages also continued to increase. In June, there were 21,075 marriages, up 14.0% (2,593) from the same month a year earlier. The growth rate was the highest since statistics began, and the number of marriages was the most for June since 2017. Cumulative marriages from January to June totaled 124,374, up 5.5% from the same period last year.
With the increase in births, the decline in natural increase (the difference between the number of births and deaths) also narrowed. The number of deaths in June was 27,794, up 2.0% from the same month a year earlier, but the natural decrease was 4,683, down 2,565 from the same month last year. In five regions, including Seoul and Incheon, natural increase appeared, with births outnumbering deaths.