The world’s least fertile country: Why aren’t they having children?

Seoul has seen a dramatic demographic shift, with nearly 1 in 6 babies born last year through fertility treatments, highlighting South Korea’s ongoing battle with one of the world’s lowest birth rates.

Kokcha News Agency reports that Seoul, the capital of South Korea, experienced an unprecedented trend last year: nearly 1 in 6 babies were born with the help of fertility treatments. While the country struggles with the lowest birth rates globally, demand for reproductive clinics continues to soar. Between 2018 and 2022, fertility treatments in South Korea increased by approximately 50%, reaching around 200,000 cases.

Experts attributed this rapid rise to changing attitudes toward family planning, with many young couples delaying or forgoing parenthood due to social and economic pressures. Currently, about one in five South Koreans is aged 65 or older, and the nation has repeatedly set records for the lowest birth rate, dropping from 0.98 children per woman in 2018 to 0.72 in 2023. Although there was a slight increase to 0.75 in 2024, experts warn that if this trend continues, South Korea’s population — currently around 50 million — could halve within 60 years.

Why Are Births Falling?
Low fertility in South Korea is driven by a complex mix of socio-economic factors. Traditional gender roles place the majority of childcare responsibilities on women, while long working hours, high education costs, and societal expectations discourage many couples from having children. A recent UN report indicates that more than half of South Koreans wish to have children but feel unable to afford or manage parenthood.

The average age for a woman in South Korea to have her first child is now 33.6 years, the highest worldwide, reflecting delayed childbirth due to economic insecurity and social constraints.