South Korean Marriage Rate Fallen 40% in Last 10 Years
2023 saw around 190,000 marriages take place in South Korea, representing a 40% decline compared with 10 years ago. To make matters worse, this worrying statistic is a uniquely direct factor in the country’s falling birth rate.
A new report from Korean newspaper The Hankyoreh highlights new statistics surrounding the country’s marriage trends.
Marriage rates in the country saw highs and lows until 2012, the year when rates would consistently decline until today. In 2011, the country saw 329,087 marriages take place, with that number dropping to 193,673 in 2023.
The Hankyoreh identifies financial issues, including housing, as the primary cause of this societal hesitancy toward marriage. It points to a government report which found that many in their twenties and thirties lacked the funds for weddings and housing. Respondents in this report highlighted lack of funds as a more significant hurdle than the burden of childcare or the feeling of not wanting marriage.
But what are some of the wider consequences of this trend? The main one is the impact on the country’s birth rate.
South Korea is a special case globally because 97.1% of children born in the country are born to married parents, according to 2021 statistics. This is compared to the global OECD average of 60%.
Due to this strong link between marriage and childbirth, it’s no surprise that the country’s birth rate is also falling. The Hankyoreh shares that there has been a noteworthy decrease in the number of second and subsequent children being born to couples. It’s important to note also that the country’s average age of marriage is also increasing, leading to a record-high average age of women giving birth.
Earlier this month, Tinder launched a new brand campaign in the country focused on Gen-Z. Global Dating Insights previously shared findings that 80% of Korea’s online daters are male, based on research of dating apps Tinder, Wise App, Wippy, Glam and Yangting.
