South Korea's fertility rate has increased for the first time in nine years, marking a potential turning point in the country’s demographic crisis. Preliminary data released by Statistics Korea on Wednesday revealed that the fertility rate stood at 0.75 in 2024, up from 0.72 in 2023, which was the lowest in the world.

The slight increase in birth rates comes amid a significant rise in marriages, which surged by 14.9% in 2024 – the highest jump since record-keeping began in 1970. This follows a smaller increase of 1.0% in 2023, attributed to a post-pandemic rebound. South Korea has long had a strong correlation between marriage and childbirth, with most births occurring within wedlock.

Government efforts to address the falling birth rate intensified after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a “national demographic crisis” and proposed creating a dedicated ministry to tackle the issue. Officials from Statistics Korea suggest that changing social attitudes toward marriage and childbirth, as well as a rise in people reaching their early 30s, may have contributed to the increase in births.

Despite the uptick, South Korea remains the only member of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) with a fertility rate below 1. The capital, Seoul, recorded the lowest birth rate at 0.58 in 2024. Meanwhile, the administrative city of Sejong was the only major center where the population grew, while the country as a whole saw 120,000 more deaths than births, marking the fifth consecutive year of natural population decline.

South Korea’s population, which peaked at 51.83 million in 2020, is projected to decline to 36.22 million by 2072, underscoring the ongoing challenges despite the latest improvement in fertility rates.