Birth Rate Increases

The number of babies born last year increased for the first time in six years.

The total birth is also showing an upward tendency based on the expected number of babies from women in their childbearing years (age15-49).

According to a report called “Tentative birth rate statistics in 2006” released by the National Statistical Office on May 7, the number of babies born last year increased by 14,000 to 452,000 compared to the previous year.

The number of babies had decreased every year after the baby boom in 2000 when the number increased by 20,000 year-on-year, but the trend has now turned upward after six years.

The total birth rate, which had plunged to 1.08 in 2005, reached 1.13 last year. It was the first time that the total birth rate has gone up since 2003 (1.19).

It is analyzed that since people delayed their weddings and deliveries due to financial problems during the Asian foreign exchange crisis, the so called ‘IMF generation,’ chose late marriages, which some say is the biggest reason why the last year’s birth rate increased.

sanjuck@donga.com jarrett@donga.com