Having baby strollers when you have kids is a great convenience. It provides both comfort and safety, making it easy and enjoyable to take your toddler along with you on quick errands.
Interestingly, pet strollers are becoming increasingly popular in South Korea, as many pet owners are recognizing the benefits of having one for their furry friends.
Here’s why……
Ever since the decline in Korea’s fertility rate, the country records an even lower birth rate each year but 2023 witnessed the lowest no of births yet, thereby causing a surge in the sales of pet strollers.
Apparently, many families are beginning to embrace the idea of pet adoption and are now opting for it instead of raising their kids.
On Monday, the country’s largest online marketspace recorded the highest number of sales of pet strollers, a feat achieved for the first time this year.
Pets vs Babies - Korea’s Growing Statistics On Pet Adoption Rate
In recent years, there has been a steady decline in the number of births in South Korea. The average number of births per year has decreased from 1.48 in the 2000s to 0.78 in 2022. The decline in fertility rates began in the 1960s as a means to control the population.
However, with the significant drop in South Korean births, and an expected decrease to an average of 0.68 births by 2024, the government may need to review its fertility control laws.
Last year, the country recorded less than 250,000 births, which is lower than its fertility rate in 2000 when it had a total of 640,000 births.
This declining birth rate also meant a drastic reduction in the sales of baby strollers in South Korea. More online stores reported that many families now order for pet strollers thereby increasing the sales of pet-related products simultaneously.
Recent statistics by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs revealed that 25% of South Korea’s population are now raising a pet or adopting one into their families.
Will South Korea survive this growing trend or will it cause a drastic reduction in its population going forward?
Likely Things That May Happen As A Result Of South Korea’s Declining Population
With South Korea’s yearly decline in fertility rate, here are a few things to expect if more families refuse to explore natural births;
- Limited Supply of Human Labor.
- Decreased government revenue due to a reduction in the tax base.
- Heightened dependency on other countries as a means to boost economic growth.
- Decline in market sales and economic growth due to a reduction in consumer demand.
- Underutilization of available resources may occur due to a low population rate.