Demographics 17 Oct 2026

The World's Lowest Birth Rate Is Rising

South Korea's births have risen for 25 straight months, but fertility is still under half the replacement level.

South Korea has the world's lowest fertility rate, but births have now risen for 25 straight months. January–July 2026 births were up 14.7% year on year (170,079), and July's single-month fertility rate reached 0.89, up from 0.81 a year earlier. Annual rates climbed from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.75 in 2024 and 0.80 in 2025.

• Jan–Jul 2026 births: 170,079, up 14.7% year on year
• July 2026 births: 24,275, up 11.1% (25th straight monthly rise)
• July single-month fertility rate: 0.89 vs 0.81 a year earlier
• Annual fertility rate: 0.72 (2023), 0.75 (2024), 0.80 (2025); replacement level 2.1

July's 0.89 is a single-month rate, not an annual figure.