by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

The 2006 World Population Report sets off alarm bells. Birthrate drops to 1.1 per couple as the elderly component of the population grows. Government and religious leaders, who call for greater collaboration, are worried.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – South Korea has the world's lowest birthrate according to the 2006 World Population Report released last week by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB). South Korean women give birth to an average 1.1 children; only Hong Kong and Macao have lower birthrates but are considered part of China.

Despite the government's efforts, the birthrate was lower than last year's 1.2; consequently, the rate of population increase was only 0.4 per cent. And the PRB expects the population to decrease by 13 per cent from the current 48 to 42.3 million by 2050.

South Koreans 65 and over today constitute 10 per cent of the population and the average life expectancy is 74 years for men and 77 for women.

Despite its one-child policy and its attempts to limit the number of newborns, China's birthrate hovers around 1.6 per cent. In North Korea, it stands at 2.

Over the years, a concerned South Korean government has adopted various measures to boost the birthrate such as tax breaks for parents, social insurance benefits, and subsidies for childcare expenses.

Religious leaders have also joined the fray to voice their concerns. At a recent TV forum, representatives from the country's main religious denominations have called for "full collaboration" between government, families and religious groups, pointing out the seriousness of the issue.

• south
• korea
• low
• birthrate
• concerns