The Ministry of Data and Statistics on April 22 released a population trend report for February saying the number of births reached 22,898, up 13.6% year on year. (Yonhap News)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

The number of births in February hit a seven-year high for the month thanks to more women in their 30s having babies.

The year-on-year growth rate set a single month record since relevant statistics began being compiled.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics on April 22 released a population trend report for February saying the number of births hit 22,898, up 2,747 or 13.6% from the same month last year.

This was the highest figure since 25,710 births in 2019, and the growth rate of 13.6% set a record since the compilation of relevant statistics was launched in 1981.

The total fertility rate, or the average number of children a woman is expected to bear over her lifetime, for February was 0.93, up from 0.83 year on year to post growth for the 14th consecutive month.

The rebound was driven by 30-something women. The fertility rate for those in their early 30s (ages 30–34) was 86.1 per 1,000 women, up 9.1, and 61.5 for those in their late 30s (35–39), or 9.2 higher.

dusrud21@korea.kr