Government data released on May 26 shows that the number of babies born in South Korea in March 2026 surged 19.8% compared to the same month last year, marking the highest level in seven years. The figures signal a notable recovery in the birth rate after a prolonged decline.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported 22,044 births in March, up from 18,400 in March 2025. This marked the second consecutive month of year-on-year increases.
Experts attribute the uptick directly to a rise in weddings in recent months. South Korea’s number of marriages in 2025 rose 8.9% to 222,000 couples — the highest since 2019 — as many couples who had postponed weddings due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic pressures finally tied the knot.
However, data also shows that total births in the first quarter of 2026 were still 2.3% lower than the same period last year, underscoring that the recovery is uneven. South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate, at 0.72 children per woman in 2023. The government has rolled out a range of pro-natal policies, including cash subsidies, extended maternity leave, and housing support.
Observers note that whether this upward trend is sustainable will depend on macroeconomic conditions and the effectiveness of the population policies currently in place.
