In contrast, all 16 other regions recorded population declines.
Over the past five years, the total population has shrunk by approximately 456,000 people.
Looking at five-year intervals, South Koreas population increased by 2.33 million people between 1990 and 1994.
However, this figure dropped to 1.436 million people in 20002004 and further declined to 984,000 people in 20102014.
The decline in births is even more pronounced.
Births decreased from 3.527 million births in 19901994 to 2.669 million births in 20002004.
The decline continued with 2.298 million births in 20052009 and a similar number in 20102014.
Marriage trends, which directly impact birth rates, show a similar pattern.
Therefore, policy efforts are needed to maintain at least a median-level population structure.
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