South Korea sees rise in birthrate after nine years, becomes a super-aged society
Seoul: South Korea recorded its first increase in newborns in nearly a decade, with 2,42,334 babies born in 2024, reflecting a 3.1% rise compared to the previous year, according to government data released on Friday. This marks a notable shift for a nation struggling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates.
The data from the Ministry of the Interior highlighted that this is the first annual increase after eight consecutive years of decline. Despite the rise in births, the country’s total population continued its downward trend, decreasing for the fifth year in a row since 2020. The total registered population stood at 51,217,221 in 2024.
On December 24, South Korea officially entered the category of a "super-aged" society, with individuals aged 65 and older now comprising 20% of the population. The Ministry of Interior and Safety reported that 10.24 million people in this age group represent a significant demographic shift, with women in this category accounting for 22% of the female population and men 18% of the male population.
Regional disparities were evident, with South Jeolla Province recording the highest proportion of elderly residents at 27.18%, while the central city of Sejong reported the lowest at 11.57%. In Seoul, the figure stood at 19.41%.
The elderly population in South Korea has been steadily rising over the years. In 2008, individuals aged 65 and older made up 10% of the population, with numbers climbing to 19.05% in early 2024 before surpassing 20% in December.
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SC to hear pleas challenging Waqf law provisions on May 20 for passing interim orders
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will take up on May 20 the issue of considering interim relief on pleas challenging validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for those challenging the validity of the law, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, to file their written notes by Monday.
“We will be considering the issue of interim relief only on Tuesday,” the CJI said while adjourning the hearing on the pleas.
The bench was told by the lawyers from both sides that the judges may need some more time to go through the pleadings.
In the meanwhile, the law officer said that in any case, there is a subsisting assurance of the Centre that no waqf properties, including those established by waqf by user, would be denotified.
Earlier, the law officer had also assured that no appointments to the Central Waqf Council or State Waqf Boards would be made under the new law.
The bench said it will not consider any plea seeking a stay of provisions of earlier 1995 Waqf law when the matters are taken up on May 20.
Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, whose bench was hearing the matter, demitted office on May 13, and the matters were transferred to the bench headed by Justice Gavai.
On April 25, the central ministry of minority affairs filed a preliminary 1,332-page affidavit defending the amended Waqf Act of 2025 and opposed any "blanket stay" by the court on a "law having presumption of constitutionality passed by Parliament".
The Centre urged the top court to dismiss the pleas challenging the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, pointing out a "mischievous false narrative" surrounding certain provisions.
The Centre notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 after it got President Droupadi Murmu's assent on April 5.
