The National Survey on Fertility, Family Health and Welfare (NSFFHW) has been conducted since 1960, and it asks the marital status, pregnancy and childbirth histories, and childcare behaviors of Korean women of childbearing age (15 to 49) and the marriage- and childbirth-related behaviors and attitudes of unmarried men and women aged 20 to 44 across Korea.  2018 NSFFHW, which was conducted for the 24th time in 2018, is also identified as Official Statistics Survey No. 331001.

The survey results demonstrate that married women increasingly perceive having and raising children as burdensome. Specifically, the financial burdens of raising and educating children and the challenges of maintaining work-life balance are the major factors significantly inhibiting childbirth. Greater efforts should be made to establish a culture in which it is safe to have and raise children, individuals’ choices are respected, gender roles are more equal, and families are respected and protected. 

Ⅰ. Introduction ······························································1

Ⅱ. Theoretical Background ········································7

Ⅲ. Survey Methodology ·············································13

1. The Sample ·················································································15

2. Sample Overview ·······································································16

Ⅳ. Findings ···································································21

1. Marriage ·······················································································23

2. Pregnancy and Childbirth ························································28

3. Childcare and Work-Family Balance ····································34

4. Policy Needs ···············································································39

Ⅴ. Conclusion ······························································43

References ···················································47