Enlarge the picture. The latest population trend data released by the Statistics Office of South Korea shows that the local birth population in February this year decreased by 3.3% annually to 19,362 people, which is the first time that the birth population in February has fallen below 20,000 people and set the lowest in February since 1981 when statistics were available. The local death population in February increased by 9.6% annually to 29,977 people, setting a new historical high for the same month. Due to the fact that the death population exceeded the birth population, the total population naturally decreased by 10,614 people, which has continued to decline for 52 consecutive months since November 2019. The naturally decreasing population exceeding 10,000 people also set a new high in February of the year.
Meanwhile, in February this year, 16,949 new couples registered for marriage, decreasing by 5% annually. In the same month, 7,354 couples divorced, increasing by 1.8% annually.
