Kindergartners without masks play on the campus of Chonnam National University in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 3, 2022, two days ahead of Children’s Day. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has a smaller infant and toddler population compared to other East Asian countries, a research institute said Sunday.
According to a report from the Korea Insurance Research Institute, Asia’s fourth-largest economy had 1.65 million children aged 0 to 4 as of 2021.
If we use Japan’s population as a benchmark at 100, South Korea’s population was around 50 in most age ranges, declining to the early 40s from 15 to 19 years old.
The proportion further decreased to 38.5 for ages 0 to 4, marking the lowest among all age groups from 0 to 64.
Taking China’s population as 100, South Korea’s population was 4 for the age groups 20 to 24 and 25 to 29. This number dropped to 2.2 for ages 0 to 4.
When compared to Taiwan, South Korea’s population ratio was above 200 for most age groups but dipped to 170 for the 0 to 4 age group, the lowest point.
According to the institute’s analysis, even when compared to smaller countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and economically challenged North Korea, South Korea’s infant and toddler population aged 0 to 4 remained the lowest.
If we set North Korea’s total population at 100, South Korea’s proportion was 199.6. Focusing on the 0 to 4 age group, this proportion decreased to 97.1.
In 2021, North Korea’s infant population aged 0 to 4 years was 1.7 million.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
