SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of newborn babies in South Korea continued to fall for 19 straight months, fueling worry about the weakening growth potential of the economy, statistical agency data showed Wednesday.
About 28,900 babies were born in June, down 12.2 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. Since December 2015, the number of newborn babies kept declining.
It was lower than any June figure since the statistical agency began compiling the data in 2000.
For the first six months of this year, childbirths amounted to 188,500, down 12.3 percent compared with the same period of last year.
The low birthrate has been a headache for the South Korean economy as it reduces the workforce amid the fast-aging population. The low birthrate and the population aging would drag down the economy's growth potential.
The number of marriages stood at 22,300 in June, down 8.2 percent from a year ago. During the April-June quarter, the figure declined 4.5 percent to 69,300 year on year.
The number of divorce shed 2.2 percent over the year to 9,000 in June. During the second quarter, the number fell 1.9 percent to 26,200.
The number of deaths increased 2.8 percent to 22,000 in June on a yearly basis. During the second quarter, it rose 2.4 percent to 68,900.
