Natural Population Decline for 21 Consecutive Months... COVID-19 Impact Deepens the 'Population Cliff'

July Population Trends: Number of Births Declines for 68 Consecutive Months Year-on-Year
Natural Population Decrease of 3,338... July Births Hit Record Low
Deaths Reach All-Time High... Overlapping with Delta Variant 4th Wave

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The natural population decline has continued for 21 consecutive months, deepening the population cliff. This is due to the record-high number of deaths caused by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the structural decline in marriage and childbirth resulting from the decrease in the population of women in their 30s. The low birthrate problem is expected to become more severe.

According to population trends announced by Statistics Korea on the 29th, the number of births in July was 22,352, a 2.8% (647) decrease compared to the same month last year. The number of births in July was the lowest since statistics began in 1981. The monthly number of births has decreased compared to the same month of the previous year for 68 consecutive months since December 2015. The number of deaths in July increased by 7.1% (1,701) to 25,690 during the same period. The number of deaths was the highest since statistics began in 1983. The increase rate was the third largest for July, following 17.4% in 1994 and 7.4% in 2018.

Accordingly, the natural population increase, calculated by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of births, was minus (-) 3,338, showing a decline for 21 consecutive months since November 2019. A Statistics Korea official explained, "The number of deaths is increasing due to population aging," adding, "The timing coincided with the fourth wave of COVID-19 caused by the spread of the Delta variant, which likely influenced the large increase in deaths in July this year, but it is difficult to definitively conclude whether there was a direct impact."

The number of marriages in July was 15,739, a 7.9% (1,341) decrease compared to the same month last year. The overall downward trend continues, with a -21.8% recorded in April. The decline in marriages affects the increase in the age of first childbirth and the decrease in births. A Statistics Korea official said, "The decrease in the population of women in their 30s and the ongoing decline in marriages since 2012 have influenced the decrease in births."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.