SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's childbirth posted a double-digit fall in November last year due to delayed marriage and the lower number of women of childbearing age, statistical office data showed Wednesday.
The number of newborn babies was 20,085 in November, down 15.3 percent from a year ago, according to Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest November figure since relevant data began to be compiled in 1981.
The number kept a record-low trend amid the continued social trend of delayed marriage and the falling number of women who are of childbearing age.
The COVID-19 pandemic further encouraged couples to postpone wedding ceremonies.
The number of marriages declined 11.3 percent over the year to 18,177 in November, logging the lowest November reading since 1981.
The number of divorces slipped 3.5 percent to 8,876 in the cited month.
The record-low childbirth raised concerns about a so-called demographic cliff, which refers to a sudden drop in the heads of household eventually leading to a consumption cliff.
The number of deaths rose 1.0 percent from a year earlier to 26,669 in November, recording the highest November figure amid the aging population as well as the pandemic.
Because of the fast fall in childbirth and the growing death, the country's population kept skidding for 13 straight months since November 2019. Enditem
