"Why Is This Happening Without War?"... Putin Explains Why He Mentioned South Korea's Low Birth Rate

Putin: "South Korea's Fertility Rate Is Half That of Russia"

"Low Birth Rates Despite No Military Conflict"

Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned South Korea's case of severe low birth rates while stating the need to boost Russia’s fertility rate. He argued that, unlike Russia, which is at war, countries like South Korea and Japan experience low birth rates even without war, emphasizing that war is not the sole cause of a declining birth rate.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

According to TASS on September 3 (local time), President Putin said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held in Vladivostok, "It is clear that our current birth rate is insufficient."

"South Korea's fertility rate is 0.7 … about half that of Russia"

President Putin noted, "Compared to our region (the Far East), the situation is not the worst. South Korea's fertility rate is 0.7, which is about half that of Russia, and Japan's rate is similar to ours," but added, "that does not mean we should set that level as our target."

He stressed, "We must aim for better numbers," and said, "At a minimum, we should achieve a fertility rate on par with that of the Far East nationwide, and the Far East itself should reach even higher numbers."

Last year, South Korea’s total fertility rate was 0.80. It fell to 0.72 in 2023, then rose to 0.75 in 2024, and to 0.80 last year, marking two consecutive years of increases. Japan’s total fertility rate last year was 1.14, the lowest on record. Russia’s rate is around 1.37, while its Far East regions—such as Sakhalin and Chukotka—are reportedly above average.

"War in Ukraine is only a secondary factor in Russia's population decline"

President Putin commented on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the population, saying, "It is true that military conflict has some impact, but that is not the whole story. Japan and South Korea have no military conflict, yet their birth rates are low."

President Putin emphasized, "We will do everything possible to raise Russia's birth rate—this is one of the most important challenges." He also highlighted the need to create better childcare conditions and to support young women, proposing an extension of cash incentives for families having a third child through 2030.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.