SEOUL, SEPT 10 – The reluctance of young South Koreans to marry is stronger in 2022 than the previous year, according to data from the statistics office today.
Among youth aged 25-39, those with partners will account for 33.7 percent of the total population in the age group in 2022, down 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to Statistics Korea.
However, the figure in 2022 is much lower than the 38.5 percent recorded in 2020.
The percentage of young women who have a husband amounted to 40.4 percent in 2022, much higher than the 27.5 percent for men who have a wife in the age group.
Young people are increasingly reluctant to marry and have children amid economic uncertainties such as high house prices, rising unemployment and high education costs.
Of young married couples, 74.7 percent will have children in 2022, down from 75.6 percent in 2021 and 76.6 percent in 2020.
The percentage of those aged 25-39, who do not have a partner and live with their parents, will reach 50.6 percent in 2022, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous year. – Xinhua
