Vietnam, South Korea Record Historic Low Birth Rates Amid Fertility Clinic Surge

Vietnam and South Korea are both confronting significant demographic challenges due to historically low birth rates, with Vietnam's fertility rate dropping to 1.91 children per woman in 2024 and South Korea experiencing the world's lowest birth rate of 0.72 in 2023, slightly rising to 0.75 in 2024. In Vietnam, financial insecurity, unstable employment, and high childcare costs contribute to declining fertility, alongside rapid population aging and health disparities, especially in rural and ethnic minority areas. South Korea has seen a nearly 50% increase in fertility treatments from 2018 to 2022, with one in six babies in Seoul born through assisted reproduction, reflecting a shift among younger generations toward more deliberate family planning and reproductive control, including egg freezing and IVF. Experts note that while past generations accepted conception unpredictability, many young South Koreans now actively plan their reproductive lives, signaling a potential cultural shift. Despite these efforts, both nations face long-term concerns about population decline and aging, with experts warning of severe demographic impacts if trends persist. The slight rise in South Korea's birth rate in 2024 offers cautious hope amid ongoing government initiatives to address these demographic crises.