In South Korea, strollers were surpassed

In South Korea, strollers were surpassed

Shocking new research suggests a significant decline in the world’s population. As a result, several sources suggest that if the decline continues, people may outnumber pets. For example, countries like South Korea have pressing issues with declining birth rates as global population dynamics change. The dynamic has been so damaging that pet strollers have become more popular than strollers in South Korea. This finding underscores a broader problem: the country’s rapidly declining birth rate, which fell to historic lows as of 2023.

In addition, a visual overview of South Korea’s current problems should be provided. The following percentages represent the number of pet and infant strollers sold over the years. According to recently released data, 43% of all strollers sold on a platform in the first three quarters of 2024 were for human infants, while the remaining 57% were designed for animals, mainly dogs and cats. This data clearly shows that pet strollers outsold strollers by 14%. In addition, the sales rate of strollers has been steadily declining since 2021, falling from 67% and 64% in 2020 to 43% this year. In comparison, pet stroller usage increased from 33% in 2021 to 36% in 2022 and 57% this year.

Babies Vs. Pets

Additionally, South Korean statistics suggest that the average fertility rate per woman was 0.78 in 2022. It is also worth mentioning that the average number of children born to women in 2022 was the lowest in the world. However, the number is expected to fall well below that. According to the National Statistics Office, the birth rate is expected to be 0.72 this year and fall below 0.7 to 0.68 in 2024 before rising again. This is obviously a major concern and problem.

The number of households in which pets are kept is now growing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, more than 6 million households had pets in 2013, up from 3.6 million in 2012. This suggests that the number of pets in households continues to increase over the years.

South Korea “a national emergency”

Furthermore, it is clear that the world is changing, perspectives are changing and priorities are evolving. Due to societal changes, parents fear that their children will prioritize their pets over relationships with their peers. This is because a decline in population may result in a generation forming fewer relationships with other children their age and instead devoting their time and attention to their beloved pets. There are also fears that the population’s lack of marriage and children will worsen over time. As South Korean Labor Minister Kim Moon-Soo explained in 2023:

Instead, they love their dogs and carry them around with them. They don’t get married, and they don’t Another cause for concern comes from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. He also has no children and owns a dog. Regardless of his own background, he emphasizes and speaks about the long-term economic impacts of an aging and shrinking population. That is, it reinforces the idea that society cannot exist without future generations. Also refers to the lack of population growth as a “demographic national emergency”. This is because the country is at risk of suffering a labor deficit as fewer young people enter the workforce, threatening economic productivity and growth.

A “patriarchal culture”

Now many people are wondering what caused the significant population decline. One of the main reasons for the decline in the birth rate in South Korea is the patriarchal society and high demands in the workplace. Former Gender Equality Minister Chung Hyun-back even stated that this element was one of the biggest obstacles to her goal of increasing fertility. She even explained herself that she chose to remain childless in order to concentrate on her job.

This is an important issue because it is widely recognized that in a society that values ​​professional success, women often face a “motherhood penalty” that discourages them from having children for fear of career repercussions and workplace discrimination to get. This cultural expectation promotes the idea that a woman’s primary value is tied to her successes at work, leaving little opportunity to balance child-rearing and career goals.

Men, on the other hand, are not expected to share the same responsibilities for children and housework. However, this creates an additional obstacle for women considering motherhood. This means that many young couples shy away from starting a family. This leads to falling birth rates in the country. Overall, this is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed and further analyzed. Although many people need to understand that this may not happen so quickly if society does not change its perspective first.

Written by Nohemi Sanchez

Sources:

ASSETS: In the country with the world’s lowest birth rate, sales of dog strollers are outpacing strollers

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Nation with lowest birth rate is rocked by rising sales of dog strollers

NDTV: Dog buggies outsell strollers in country with world’s lowest birth rate: report

Featured image courtesy of angela n. Flickr page – Creative Common License

Image included courtesy of Tony Alter Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

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