Gyeonggi Province's Birth Rate Increased Last Year

The number of newborns in Gyeonggi Province, which had shown a consistent downward trend since 2000, rebounded slightly in 2006.

On the 21st, the province announced through the Resident Registration Information System that last year's newborn population reached 109,378, up 4.7% (4,949 people) from 104,429 in 2005, according to the 'Gyeonggi Province Population Status by Year.'

During the same period, Gyeonggi Province's total population rose only 1.9% from 10,697,215 to 10,906,033, indicating that the increase in newborns was not due to population inflow but rather a net increase in the birth rate.

By region, Paju, Yongin, and Pyeongtaek saw significant increases due to new city development projects.

The year-by-year number of newborns was 136,706 in 2000, 123,271 in 2001, 113,164 in 2002, 113,117 in 2003, and 112,493 in 2004, continuing a downward trend.

A provincial official explained that proactive childbirth policies also played a role in the increase in newborn births.

Starting last year, the province became the first metropolitan authority to implement childbirth promotion policies, including disbursing 245,000 won per child per month for childcare facility fees for second and subsequent children aged 0 to under 24 months, and significantly expanding extended-hour childcare facilities for dual-income couples.