Demographic crisis in Japan and South Korea as birthrates reach new record lows.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

South Korea's fertility rate, already the lowest globally, continued its dramatic decline in 2023, according to Statistics Korea.

The average number of expected babies per South Korean woman during her reproductive life plummeted to a record low of 0.72 last year, from 0.78 in 2022, according to the government agency.

In South Korea, a societal shift has seen a rise in young adults living alone and an increase in unmarried people, particularly among men. This trend underscores the challenges facing South Korea as it grapples with the implications of its declining fertility rate on its future economic competitiveness and societal structure.

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The challenges of balancing career advancement with childcare predominantly fall on women, often resulting in extended career breaks and hindering professional progression.

The demographic shift is not only affecting the labor market but also the social fabric of South Korea. Young adults aged 19 to 34, who constituted almost a third of the population in 1990, have dwindled to a mere fifth of the total population by 2020, Newsweek reported.

This group is projected to further decrease to 5.21 million by 2050. Meanwhile, individuals aged 65 and above are increasing in proportion, set to outnumber young adults by the decade's end.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/south-korea-s-baby-bust-reaches-crisis-level/ar-BB1j6GQB

Japan's new births fall to record low in 2023 as demographic woes deepen

TOKYO (Reuters) -The number of babies born in Japan fell for an eighth straight year to a fresh record low in 2023, preliminary government data showed on Tuesday, underscoring the daunting task the country faces in trying to stem depopulation.

The number of births fell 5.1% from a year earlier to 758,631, while the number of marriages slid 5.9% to 489,281 -- the first time in 90 years the number fell below 500,000 -- foreboding a further decline in the population as out-of-wedlock births are rare in Japan.

Asked about the latest data, Japan's top government spokesperson said the government will take "unprecedented steps" to cope with the declining birthrate, such as expanding childcare and promoting wage hikes for younger workers.
"The declining birthrate is in a critical situation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. "The next six years or so until 2030, when the number of young people will rapidly decline, will be the last chance to reverse the trend."

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Japan's population will likely decline by about 30% to 87 million by 2070, with four out of every 10 people aged 65 or older, according to estimates by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/japans-new-births-fall-to-record-low-in-2023-as-demographic-woes-deepen/ar-BB1iYnjB

[Lovie777]

1. Crapola.........................

not blaming women.

[Irish_Dem]

2. If a country improves the lives of women, makes it easier for them to

pay for and juggle family and home, maybe they will start having children.

[redqueen]

8. Some countries are paying couples to have kids

That's not going to work. That is definitely part of the problem, but another part is women are sick of being exploited for free labor and being treated like things to be used. The failure of most men to do their fair share of labor in a household and/or the habit of men making ridiculous demands (sexual or otherwise), has made a lot of women give up on dating let alone marrying.

This is going to get worse. And really it's not a bad thing. the planet can't replenish resources as fast as we are using them up.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Exactly, it is not just about money.

It is about treating women with respect.
Childcare, education, maternity leave, healthcare, etc.

[lostnfound]

19. Socioeconomic factors aside, my suspicion is that it's partly driven by PFAS chemicals in the environment

I’ve read numerous studies linking the prevalence of PFAS to infertility, hormone disruption in both men and women.
South Korea has one of the highest rates of PFAS contamination.
Other generations have been poor, or juggled family and home businesses, but nonetheless each generation has had young men and women anxious to get into relationships with each other.
Dating behavior is WAYY down.
Electronic distractions are a contributor, and social disengagement. But biology is more powerful than economics.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/06/forever-chemicals-infertility-women-pfas-blood?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Irish_Dem]

20. I think hormone disruption is a very big factor.

Due to the toxic soup we live in.

I have been noticing this too.

[Basic LA]

3. Yeah, that's the planet's big problem!

Not enough people! Let's double that 8 billion Pronto!
Seriously, what ever happened to zero population growth? To overcrowding and Malthusian Theory and Soylent Green?

[limbicnuminousity]

4. Declining birth rates are good news.

The planet doesn't have the resources to sustain 8, 9 or 10 trillion humans.

[roamer65]

5. This☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[Scrivener7]

6. Exactly.

[Elessar Zappa]

7. The problem is a very low tax base and work force

for taking care of the elderly.

[limbicnuminousity]

10. Quite the conundrum.

Maybe, just maybe....corporations might pay their taxes and pick up the slack. And the work force is already being replaced by AI.

The capitalists are primarily interested in expanding the consumer-base and growing profit margins, not taking care of the elderly.

[TheProle]

11. This.

So often lost in the discussion.

[betsuni]

12. There are shops in my neighborhood

(small rural city in Japan) desperate for workers. Sometimes there's a new young person hired but if it's a guy never lasts long. Cashiers, hospitals, supermarkets -- women. I'm assuming elderly care facilities desperately need workers. One of my husband's friends (man) only lasted a few weeks working in one.

Husband's niece, in her late twenties, has no desire to marry or have children or ever move out of the house. I just found out she takes trips to South Korea by herself and was surprised, but younger generations are completely different from how everyone used to do things in groups, and they're certainly not going to give up their lives for some stupid conservative company or be a housewife. Saw a news program about how difficult it is for start-ups in Japan, depressing. Old conservative oblivious men still in charge.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

16. interesting. Thanks for the first hand report.

[betsuni]

17. You're welcome!

[Hekate]

13. Meaningful maternity leave. Better wages and retirement plans for women. Childcare. And something...

…else that we in America need to be forcefully reminded of: openness to immigration of foreigners, which is something that kept the US young and vital while other countries aged.

[betsuni]

18. Immigration, yes.

[Takket]

14. i think the problem is two-fold

it is just too expensive to have kids.

a lot of people just don't want to bring their kids into a world that is falling apart environmentally, and i don't blame them. we're only seeing the beginning of the effect of global warming.

[redqueen]

15. "lot of people just don't want to bring their kids into a world that is falling apart"

Sadly this seems to be a not uncommon reason. Can't really argue based on climate change alone.