The proportion of unmarried individuals in their 40s grew 6.7 times for men and 5.7 times for women in 2020 compared to 20 years earlier, a government report showed, underscoring the trend of marrying later or not at all, which some blame for South Korea’s ultralow birth rate.

The growing trend is attributed to people marrying later and a rise in lifelong singlehood, according to the annual social report by Statistics Korea. The report offers insights into the status of Korean society and key trends based on statistical analysis.

In 2020, 23.6 percent of men and 11.9 percent of women in their 40s were unmarried, compared with just 3.5 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively, in 2000, the report showed.

The study found that “single people’s positive perception of marriage is on the decline, and the intention to marry is higher when education, the economy and health are good.”(Yonhap)