Nearly half of Korean adults of child-bearing age consider living a child-free life acceptable, reflecting evolving attitudes towards parenthood. This trend is especially pronounced among women, younger generations, and individuals with unstable employment.
A report presented at the Population Forum in Seoul on December 20 by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) revealed that 52.6% of surveyed respondents would be content without children. By contrast, only 30.2% expressed a preference for having children, and 10.3% considered it essential. The survey, conducted between November 3 and December 6, included 4,000 men and women aged 19 to 79 nationwide.
The data highlights a significant gender divide: 63.5% of women supported the idea of living without children, compared to 41.2% of men. Women in their twenties and individuals with lower incomes were the most likely to hold this view. Even among married respondents, 69.3% were hesitant about having additional children, with 36.2% remaining childless.
The primary reasons cited for avoiding parenthood included age (20.5%), high childcare expenses (18.2%), economic insecurity (16%), and lack of confidence in parenting roles (10.3%). Kim Eun-jung, an associate researcher at KIHASA, emphasized that financial challenges—such as job instability, rising housing costs, and burdensome childcare expenses—deter many from starting families. “Creating stable employment opportunities, reducing housing costs, and easing childcare-related financial pressures are vital to encouraging childbirth,” she noted.
South Korea’s fertility rate, already the lowest in the world, hit a record low in 2023. The country’s average number of expected births per woman dropped to 0.72, down from 0.78 in 2022, according to Statistics Korea. This is drastically below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to sustain the current population of 51 million.
Despite extensive government investments aimed at reversing this demographic decline, South Korea’s population has continued to shrink for four consecutive years. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing structural economic and social barriers to childbirth. Without significant changes, the nation’s declining fertility rate could have profound long-term implications for its economy and workforce.
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