World · East Asia & Pacific · 14 hrs ago
South Korea births rise as parents face long waits for public daycare
South Korea recorded 254,341 births in 2025, up 6.7% from the year before and the second annual increase in a row.
But the number of daycare centres has fallen for 12 consecutive years, reaching 26,064 in 2025.
A father in Seoul said he had waited 18 months for a public daycare place for his younger child, who was number 285 on the waiting list.
The overall decline in centres does not mean parents can find places easily in their own neighbourhoods, especially for children aged zero to two.
Falling enrolment has made it harder for centres to qualify for government subsidies and pay staff, contributing to closures.
Public centres were an exception: their number rose 3.4% in 2025.
The Education Ministry is considering allowing public centres to serve only children aged zero to two, with a change possible as early as 2027.
A father in Seoul has waited 18 months for a public daycare place for his younger child, who is 285th on the waiting list.
South Korea’s births rose 6.7% to 254,341 in 2025, the second consecutive annual increase.
The number of daycare centres fell for the 12th consecutive year, dropping from 43,770 in 2013 to 26,064 in 2025.
Parents report difficulty finding places locally, particularly for children aged zero to two.
The government plans to let public daycare centres serve only infants aged zero to two, with the change potentially taking effect in 2027.
- Who
- Parents in South Korea, including a father in Seoul, are affected by daycare shortages. The government is considering changes to public daycare operations.
- What
- Births have risen, but the number of daycare centres has continued to fall and some parents face long waits for places.
- When
- Births rose in 2025. A proposed legal change could take effect as early as 2027.
- Where
- South Korea, including Gwangjin-gu in Seoul.
- Why
- Centres face falling enrolment, which can make it difficult to meet subsidy requirements and cover teachers’ salaries.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The number of daycare centres reached a peak of 43,770.
CCTV footage of a teacher hitting a four-year-old girl prompted national outrage and legislation requiring surveillance cameras in daycare centres.
Responsibility for childcare transferred from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the Ministry of Education.
Births rose 6.7% to 254,341, while the number of daycare centres fell to 26,064.
A proposed legal amendment allowing public daycare centres to serve only infants could take effect.
- Father’s wait
- 18 months
- Waiting-list position
- No. 285
- Births in 2025
- 254,341, up 6.7%
- Daycare centres in 2025
- 26,064
- Public daycare centres in 2025
- 6,745, up 3.4% from 6,521 in 2024
- Proposed change
- Public centres could serve infants aged zero to two only
What people are saying
My child is No. 285 on the waiting list. Most of the parents waiting for places have children aged zero to two
As the number of children continues to fall, centres struggle to meet the minimum enrolment required to qualify for government subsidies and cover teachers’ salaries, leading to closures.
Older children can attend kindergartens, but access to care appears to be a particular problem for children aged 0 to 2, especially in newly developed towns.
We aim to improve access by allowing public daycare centres to operate with infant classes only.
Sources
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