Functions for vouchers offered to pregnant ladies elevated 8.1 p.c from a 12 months earlier within the first 9 months of this 12 months, knowledge confirmed Sunday, in a potential signal of a continued rebound within the variety of newborns in a rustic dealing with one of many world’s lowest beginning charges.
The variety of purposes for such vouchers totaled 257,761 within the January-September interval, in contrast with 238,507 in the identical interval final 12 months, in accordance with the info by the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Service.
Whereas the determine doesn’t precisely align with the variety of childbirths, partly as a result of miscarriages, it’s seen as an indicator that displays modifications within the beginning charge.
On a month-to-month foundation, the variety of purposes declined on-year in January however posted will increase within the subsequent eight months. Double-digit growths had been reported within the June-September interval, elevating views the pattern may proceed into early subsequent 12 months.
South Korea noticed the variety of childbirths improve for the primary time in 9 years in 2024, pushed by a post-pandemic rise in marriages, evolving attitudes towards parenthood and demographic modifications, in accordance with authorities knowledge.
The nation’s complete fertility charge, the typical variety of youngsters a lady is anticipated to have in her lifetime, got here in at 0.75 final 12 months and is forecast to achieve 0.8 this 12 months.
