Perinatology.  2021 Jun;32(2):67-74. 10.14734/PN.2021.32.2.67.

Trends and Changes of Maternal Age at Live Birth and Related Statistics in Korea (1981-2019)

• Yun J
• Son SH
• Bae CW

• KMID: 2522518
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/PN.2021.32.2.67

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the changing trends of maternal age at birth in Korea over the past 40 years and related statistics to identify the aging trend.
Methods
Population and birth statistics between 1981 and 2019 were obtained from the Statistics Korea. Birth data including total number of births, crude birth rate (CBR), total fertility rate (TFR), and maternal statistics including women's first marriage age, number of women of childbearing potential, distribution of maternal age at birth, maternal age by birth order, and birth weight by maternal age were reviewed.
Results
There was a decrease in the total number of births, CBR and TFR. The average age of women at first marriage increased from 23.2 to 30.6 years and the number of women of childbearing potential decreased from 17.6 million to 15.86 million. The number of advanced maternal age women increased from 3.9% to 33.4% and the number of newborns born to advanced maternal age mothers increased threefold from 33 thousands to 100 thousands. The proportion of low-birth weight infants by maternal age increased among mothers under the age of 20 and mothers of advanced maternal age.
Conclusion
We found significant trends in low birth rate, decreased number of women of childbea ring potential, later first marriage age and increasing maternal age over 40 years in Korea. In terms of perinatal management, this study intended to provide basic data, aiming at overcoming a rising trend in low birth rate and advanced maternal age.

Keyword

Statistics; Total live births; Total fertility rate; Advanced maternal age; Low birth weight infant