Gloomier childbirth data reported in April

The number of babies born in South Korea declined to a fresh record low in April, data showed Wednesday, underpinning the country’s gloomy demographic situation with the chronically low birth rate.

A total of 22,820 babies were born in April, down 2.2 percent from the previous year, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.

It marked the lowest for any April since 1981, when the statistics agency began compiling related data.

South Korea is struggling with a sustained fall in childbirths as many young people delay marriage or give up on getting married or having babies amid a prolonged economic slowdown.

In the first quarter, the total fertility rate reached 0.88, the lowest level since 2009, when the agency started compiling related data. In April, the number of deaths rose for the second straight month amid rapid agi ng.