**Number of Birth Registrations Increase by 3.10% to 242,334**
The number of birth registrations in South Korea increased for the first time in nine years. While the population of both young and working-age people declined, the increase in the elderly population aged 65 and above continued.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 3rd that the number of birth registrations in South Korea reached 242,334 in 2024, an increase of 7,295 from the previous year. After declining for eight consecutive years since 2016, the number of birth registrations rose by 3.10% last year. Male birth registrations stood at 123,923, exceeding the female registrations of 118,411.
The resident registration population has been decreasing for five consecutive years since 2020, dropping from 51,325,329 in 2023 to 51,217,221 last year. By gender, females numbered 25,718,897, approximately 220,000 more than males (25,498,324), widening the gender population gap since females first surpassed males in 2015.
The average age of the registered population was 45.3 years, with males averaging 44.2 years and females 46.5 years.
While the number of births increased, the trend of aging continued. The population in their 60s surpassed those in their 40s, and those in their 70s surpassed those in their 30s. The population distribution by age group showed the 50s as the largest group at 8,706,370 (17.00%), followed by the 60s (15.27%), 40s (15.08%), 70 and above (12.94%), 30s (12.93%), 20s (11.63%), teens (9.02%), and below 10 (6.13%).
The population of youth and working-age groups decreased, while the number of elderly aged 65 and above increased. The youth population aged 0-14 decreased by 3.52% to 5,464,421 compared to 2023. The working-age population aged 15-64 fell by 1.21% to 35,496,018. Meanwhile, the elderly population aged 65 and over rose by 5.41% to 10,256,782 during the same period, making up 20.03% of the total registered population, surpassing the 20% mark.
The gap between the population in the capital region and non-capital regions widened. The population residing in the capital area reached 26,047,523 last year, accounting for 50.86% of the total population. In contrast, the non-capital population was 25,169,898 (49.14%). Compared to the previous year, the capital region’s population grew by 0.13%, while the non-capital population shrank by 0.56%, expanding the population gap to 877,825.
Compared to 2023, population increases were observed in 4 metropolitan and 54 local municipalities. The population grew in regions such as Gyeonggi, Incheon, Chungnam, and Sejong, while 13 other regions saw a decrease. Among cities, counties, and districts, Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province saw the largest increase with 24,479 more people, followed by increases in Yangju, Gangdong in Seoul, Paju, and Gangnam in Seoul, among others across 54 locations.
Notably, among the 89 designated population decline areas, regions such as Yesan in Chungnam, Ganghwa in Incheon, Yeonggwang in Jeonnam, Gapyeong in Gyeonggi, Andong in Gyeongbuk, Sinan in Jeonnam, Sunchang in Jeonbuk, and Ulleung in Gyeongbuk experienced population growth.
Kim Min-jae, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, “Although our country’s population has been declining for five consecutive years, the number of birth registrations is increasing for the first time in nine years, showing signs of positive change. There is a need for continued collaboration among relevant departments to improve the child-rearing environment and to prepare diverse support measures to maintain this upward trend in births.”