Increase Rate of Births in Large Cities with Over 500,000 Population... Pyeongtaek City Tops at 10.8%

Employment, Housing Supply, and Marriage Rate Impact
All Top 10 Locations Concentrated in Gyeonggi Province

Among major cities nationwide, which place had the highest birth rate increase last year? While the total fertility rate rebounded for the first time in nine years last year, significant regional disparities in birth rates were also observed.

According to the resident registration population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, among the basic local governments nationwide with populations over 500,000, the city with the highest birth rate increase last year was Pyeongtaek-si in Gyeonggi-do.

The number of births in Pyeongtaek-si last year was 4,110, an increase of 10.8% compared to the previous year. It was the only double-digit growth rate among cities with populations over 500,000.

In particular, the top 10 cities with the highest birth rate increases among cities with populations over 500,000 were all concentrated in Gyeonggi-do. Following Pyeongtaek-si were ▲Suwon-si (9.0%) ▲Hwaseong-si (7.4%) ▲Anyang-si (6.7%) ▲Paju-si (5.1%) ▲Yongin-si (4.8%) ▲Seongnam-si (4.5%) ▲Namyangju-si (3.2%) ▲Siheung-si (2.7%) ▲Goyang-si (2.7%) ranked high. This contrasts with Changwon-si in Gyeongnam and Chungju-si in Chungbuk, which each recorded only 0.8%. The national average birth rate increase last year was 3.1%.

Pyeongtaek-si’s high birth rate increase is not unrelated to urban conditions, according to the city’s own analysis. Factors such as abundant jobs, the influx of young people, housing supply, and high marriage rates played a role.

A city official explained, "High-quality jobs are being created through the activation of future industries such as semiconductors, and housing supply is actively taking place centered around Godeok International New City and Pyeongtaek Jije Station, accelerating the influx of young people."

In fact, the number of employed persons in Pyeongtaek-si has steadily increased every year since 2013, and as of the end of last year, the average age was 41.9 years, lower than the national average (45.3 years) and Gyeonggi-do (43.6 years). Especially in Godeok-dong, where Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus and Godeok International Business District are located, the average age is 33.1 years, the youngest among towns and neighborhoods.

From 2018 to 2023, Pyeongtaek-si also ranked second nationwide among basic local governments in terms of housing increase over six years. Additionally, Pyeongtaek-si recorded the highest early marriage rate every year among cities with populations over 500,000.

Jung Jang-seon, mayor of Pyeongtaek-si, said, "As the industries centered on semiconductors, hydrogen, and future cars develop and new city settlements such as Brain City and Hwayang District begin, births will increase further. We will continue to strive to make Pyeongtaek a happy city for all citizens who choose and are born here."

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