The number of newly created companies shot up 16.6 percent on-year in February to 6,633, the Small and Medium Business Administration said Sunday.

It also said for the first two months of this year, 13,566 new businesses were created, the highest number reached since the government started compiling related statistics in 2000.

"The number of new companies rose across the board coming into this year," the SMBA said.

It said double-digit growth was achieved in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.

In regard to the age of new business owners, those over 60 rose 27.8 percent, while that of those in their 30s moved up 21.3 percent.

The government agency said that while there was an increase in the number of new companies last month vis-a-vis the year before, the total marks a 4.2 percent dip from January, when 6,930 new business were opened nationwide. (Yonhap)