The number of children born in Korea increased for the second straight year in 2011, amid concerted efforts to bolster the country’s low birthrate, a government report showed Monday.

According to the report by Statistics Korea, the number of newborns totaled 471,400 last year, a gain of 1,200, or 0.3 percent, from the 2010 tally. The gain was attributed mainly to more couples opting to have their first and third child last year.

Reflecting this, the number of first and third-borns edged up 1.7 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, in 2011, while figures for second-borns dipped 1.6 percent on-year.

The statistical office said the newborn birth numbers are the highest since 493,200 reported in 2007.

The increase comes as South Korea has made a concerted push to bolster childbirth by offering various incentives to couples. The low birthrate could dent the country’s growth potential and raise social welfare costs down the road.

The total fertility rate, or the number of babies that a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, edged up to 1.24, the second year in a roll that the number has increased, the report said. The crude birthrate, or the number of babies born for every 1,000 people, stood at 9.4, unchanged from 2010.

The report also showed that the average age of a woman having her first child moved up 0.19 years vis-a-vis 2010 to 31.45 years.

Statistics Korea added that the gender ratio between male and female babies fell to an all-time low last year, as traditional preference for boys waned among younger parents.

Last year there were 105.7 male babies born for every 100 female babies. A natural gender ratio at birth stands at around 103 to 107 male babies for every 100 female babies born.

The statistical office said the total number of deaths in the country grew for the fifth consecutive year to reach 257,300 for a gain of 0.7 percent compared to the previous year.

This is the largest number of deaths tallied since the government started keeping a detailed database as of 1983, it said.

The report also said the country’s population grew by around 214,100 people last year as the number of newborn babies exceeded the number of deaths. 

(Yonhap News)