In South Korea, the birth rate last year stood at 0.72 children per woman. This is the lowest birth rate since 1970.
If nothing changes, South Korea's population will lose almost half its population, reaching 26.9 million in 2100. The high costs of raising children, very high real estate prices, a rigid and competitive business culture are among the factors contributing to this demographic collapse. Even a much higher fertility rate in India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh will not reverse the trend. In China, Japan, and Taiwan, births are also in free fall.