Total Fertility Rate in South Korea
South Korea: Total Fertility Rate was 0.778 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.778
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
196th
of 197 countries
All-time high
5.95
in 1960
All-time low
0.778
in 2022
Years of data
63
1960–2022
Total Fertility Rate in South Korea, 1960–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total fertility rate in South Korea is 0.778, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate in South Korea peaked at 5.95 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.778, in 2022.
South Korea ranks 196th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total Fertility Rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.95 | — |
| 1961 | 5.81 | -2.3% |
| 1962 | 5.62 | -3.2% |
| 1963 | 5.41 | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 5.19 | -4.1% |
| 1965 | 5 | -3.7% |
| 1966 | 4.81 | -3.7% |
| 1967 | 4.63 | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 4.49 | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 4.47 | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 4.53 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 4.54 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 4.12 | -9.3% |
| 1973 | 4.07 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 3.77 | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 3.43 | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 3 | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 2.99 | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.64 | -11.7% |
| 1979 | 2.9 | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 2.82 | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.57 | -8.9% |
| 1982 | 2.39 | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.06 | -13.8% |
| 1984 | 1.74 | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.66 | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.58 | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.53 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.55 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.71 | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 1.76 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.65 | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.66 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.63 | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.57 | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.54 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.46 | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.43 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.48 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.31 | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 1.19 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.16 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.08 | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.13 | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.26 | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1.19 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.15 | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.23 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 1.24 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.3 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.19 | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.21 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.24 | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.17 | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 1.05 | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 0.977 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 0.918 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.837 | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.808 | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.778 | -3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.778 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.52, 51% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.778 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.32, 34% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.14 | 4.47 | 5.95 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6 | 2.64 | 4.54 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.95 | 1.53 | 2.82 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6 | 1.43 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.21 | 1.08 | 1.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 | 0.918 | 1.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8077 | 0.778 | 0.837 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 46,871 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 46,871 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.0957 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate in South Korea?
- Total fertility rate in South Korea was 0.778 in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest total fertility rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.95 in 1960.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.778 in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for total fertility rate?
- South Korea ranks 196th out of 197 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total fertility rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Total Fertility Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on health outcomes.