Marriage Rates

South Korea Sees Birth Rate Surge, Reaches 14-Year High in May

South Korea saw a notable increase in births in May, with a 3.8% rise from the previous year, reaching the highest May increase since 2011. This marks the second consecutive month births surpassed 20,000 and the 11th straight month of on-year growth. A significant rise in marriages, up 4% in May, contributed to the increase, influencing a rise in the country’s fertility rate. Despite the positive trend, the country still faces a natural population decline due to more deaths than births, a pattern observed since late 2019, while divorces decreased.

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US Transportation Funding Tied to Marriage, Birth Rates: Outrage Erupts

An undated memo signed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize projects in communities exhibiting higher-than-average marriage and birth rates. This directive, impacting DOT grants and programs, aims to mitigate the effects of DOT activities on families and improve internal management, according to the memo. The policy’s potential impact on communities with lower rates remains uncertain and the DOT has yet to publicly comment on the memo. This decision follows other recent actions by the Trump administration focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the department.

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