South Korea¡¯s fertility rate rose for a second consecutive year in 2025, a rare bright spot for a country that has long struggled with the world¡¯s lowest birth rate.
The number of babies a woman is expected to have over her lifetime increased to 0.8 last year from 0.75 in 2024, preliminary data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics showed. Births in 2025 climbed 6.8% from the previous year to 254,500, the highest total since 2021, when about 260,600 babies were born.
The improvement comes as marriages show signs of recovery after a prolonged slump, supported by incentives designed to ease the financial burden of raising children. Authorities have expanded cash allowances, childcare services and housing support, including preferential mortgage programs for families with newborns.
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