South Korea is grappling with a “national emergency” as it faces the world’s lowest birth rate, with fewer babies being born than in any other country.
The fertility rate has dropped to just 0.72 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to keep the population stable, according to Statistics Korea. At this rate, experts predict the country’s population could halve by 2100.
The decline is staggering. In the 1960s, South Korea welcomed 1.1 million babies each year.
By 2024, that figure had plummeted to 231,000 – an 80% drop in just six decades, according to official figures.
By 2070, nearly half of all South Koreans are expected to be over 65.
Governments have tried to reverse the trend, spending £226 billion on cash handouts, subsidised housing, and free childcare. But the numbers keep falling, and young people say the real problems aren’t being addressed.
Yejin, a 30-year-old TV producer, told the BBC she decided not to have children because of the relentless work culture and societal pressures.
“There’s an implicit expectation that women must leave their jobs if they have kids,” she said. “I’ve seen it happen to colleagues and family members. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
Many young South Koreans share her concerns. The cost of living in cities like Seoul, where the birth rate has sunk to just 0.55, is sky-high.
Private education is also a heavy burden, with parents often spending more than £700 a month on tuition to keep their children competitive. Choosing not to pay for these classes is seen as putting a child at a disadvantage.
Work-life balance is another major issue. South Koreans work some of the longest hours in the world, leaving little time for family life.
“I love my job, but it’s exhausting,” Yejin said. “At the weekends, I sometimes need an IV drip just to recover enough to go back to work on Monday.”
Cultural expectations also play a role. Only 2% of births in South Korea occur outside of marriage, and single mothers face stigma.
For many women, the idea of having children without a supportive partner – or being judged for raising a child alone – is a dealbreaker.
Even men are feeling the pressure. Only 7% of fathers take parental leave, and many say they are unprepared or unwilling to share childcare duties.
“There’s still this expectation that women do it all,” said Stella, a teacher who chose not to have children. “I couldn’t rely on my husband to help.”
The now-suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, previously conceded that previous policies to boost the birth rate “haven’t worked” and promised to address the deeper issues.
