There has been a long downward trend in birth rates across many OECD countries, and nowhere more so than in Korea, where the Total Fertility Rate stood at 0.8 children per woman in 2025. Why has this happened, what are the consequences and implications for population ageing, and what can be done about it?
This study addresses these issues, building on the OECD’s rich body of data and policy work on families. It illustrates the various aspects of fertility trends, such as the strong link between marriage and parenthood, the high prevalence of one‑child families in Korea, and the growing incidence of childlessness among women. It pays particular attention to social attitudes and norms among young people and how these may affect partnering, the continuing development of a comprehensive family support policy, the impact of high private tuition and housing costs, and the characteristics of the labour market that make finding economic security and work-life balance so difficult to achieve.
This report was prepared by a team of analysts in the Social Policy Division of the OECD Directorate of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs (ELS) led by Willem Adema, including Takuyo Ozaki and Jasmin Thomas. Maxime Ladaique provided statistical support, the support by Minju Lee, Seungil Lee and Garam Park-Yi on a range of issues and data was indispensable, while comments by Marissa Plouin and Jon Pareliussen (Economics Department) were much appreciated. Marie‑Aurélie Elkurd and Hanna Varkki prepared the report for publication, with Alastair Wood providing communications support. Monika Queisser (Senior Counsellor and Head of the Social Policy Division) supervised the project under the leadership of Mark Pearson (Acting Director, ELS).
We are very grateful to all Korean officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Health and Welfare as well as the Presidential Committee on Population Policy, who provided factual comments that have been accounted for.
The OECD gratefully acknowledges the financial support by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea towards the preparation of this report.