South Koreans believe that the country’s alarmingly low birth rate stems from high costs associated with child-rearing, according to a survey released on Mar. 26. Korea’s total fertility rate - the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime - plummeted to a record low of 0.65 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Survey results show that the majority of Koreans, irrespective of marital status or gender, perceive having children as a significant financial burden.
The Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association recently polled 2,000 individuals aged between 20 and 44 to shed light on the causes behind Korea’s low birthrate. The 2,000 respondents were equally distributed between 500 single, 500 married, 500 male and 500 female respondents.
A staggering 96% of those surveyed acknowledged that “raising children is expensive,” while 88.8% said they “worry about the future their children will have to live in.” The financial burden of child-rearing, combined with uncertainty about the children’s future, are seen as significant factors deterring Koreans from parenthood.
When asked who should be financing the upbringing of preschool-aged children, 30.6% favored a blend of “parental and governmental support.” This response was closely followed by “just parents” (26.7%) and the “government” (22.4%). Nearly 70% believe the government should finance child-rearing, while only a small fraction (20.3%) think employers should contribute.
The survey revealed societal perceptions on how raising children affects parental freedom and women’s careers. A considerable 72.8% felt that children restricted parental freedom, with single women (80.6%) and married women (72.7%) feeling this most acutely. Most single men (70.0%), and married men (66.7%) shared similar sentiments. Furthermore, 77.6% agreed with the statement that “children limit women’s career prospects.” Specifically, 87.6% of married women, 84.5% of single women, 76.6% of married men and 66.2% of single men echoed this perspective.
“This reflects the challenges women, especially married women, face in balancing career aspirations with familial responsibilities,” said the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association.
Despite these challenges, the survey identified several positive views on marriage, including “relational stability” (89.9%), “overall happiness” (89%), “social stability” (78.5%), and “financial security” (71.8%). Notably, expectations around achieving relational stability and financial security were lower among single men, whereas single women were more skeptical about attaining social stability and overall happiness.
Approximately 30% of respondents did not see marriage as a pathway to financial security. “Relatively low expectations for social stability and financial security are linked to broader issues such as employment, housing, and work-life balance, which are contributing to declining birthrates,” said a representative of the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association. “The government should take proactive measures to address these challenges.”
