Korea’s marriage rate has increased since 2022 after many years of decline, driven primarily by an increase among those aged 30-34. Meanwhile, the age at first marriage continues to rise for both men and women, with a more pronounced increase among women. The actual age at first marriage remains higher than the perceived ideal age, suggesting that this gap reflects unintended delays.
The view that marriage is essential has declined, particularly among those born in the 1990s. In surveys, unmarried individuals who wish to marry cite a lack of suitable partners, housing costs, and employment instability as key reasons for remaining unmarried. Those unwilling to marry report perceiving little need for marriage.
These findings suggest a need to shift policy toward improving employment conditions and housing availability for young people, expanding opportunities to meet potential partners, and providing targeted support for individuals born in the 1990s―the primary marriage-age group.