Economics
South Korea’s Population Falls for First Time During Pandemic
- The crisis is forcing more people to delay marriage, pregnancy
- South Korean births fell 11% to a record low in 2020
South Korea’s population fell by about 21,000 to 51.8 million, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South Korea’s population declined in 2020 for the first time on record as births dropped to a historic low amid the pandemic.
The population fell by about 21,000 to 51.8 million, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety. The number of South Korean births slid 11% compared with the previous year, likely driving down what is already the world’s lowest national fertility rate.