SEOUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of newborn babies in South Korea fell for 17 months through April, fueling worries about the weakening growth potential of the economy, statistics data showed Wednesday.
About 30,000 babies were born in April, down 13.6 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.
It was the lowest figure for any April since the statistical agency began compiling the data in 2000, keeping a falling trend for the 17th consecutive month.
The number of newborns posted a double-digit decline for five months from December last year.
For the first four months of this year, childbirths amounted to 129,200, down 12.6 percent compared with the same period of last year. It was the biggest four-month fall since 2010.
The low birthrate has been a headache for the South Korean economy as it reduces the workforce amid the fast-aging population. The low birthrate and the population aging would drag down the economy's growth potential.
The number of marriage was 20,100 in April, down 11.8 percent from a year ago. It was the lowest figure for any April since 2000 when the statistical agency began compiling the data.
The number of divorce declined 4.8 percent over the year to 7,900 in April as the falling marriage pulled down the figure for the split-up.
The number of deaths rose 1.3 percent to 23,100 in the cited period.
