人口負增長！去年韓國死亡人數首次超過出生人數

多年來韓國一直在同少子化問題和人口老齡化問題作鬥爭，然而過去的一年給了韓國又一個打擊。人口普查數據顯示，去年韓國死亡人數首次超過了出生人數，總人口第一次出現負增長。

South Korea recorded More deaths than births in 2020 for the first time ever, prompting calls for action to revive the country's falling fertility rate.

韓國2020年記錄的死亡人數有史以來第一次超過了出生人數，這促使人們呼籲出臺措施提高不斷降低的生育率。

For years, South Korea has struggled with a growing demographic crisis. The country's fertility rate has repeatedly hit record lows, and ranks near the bottom of the lowest fertility rates in the world. Meanwhile, South Korea's population continues to age, sending the country into a demographic decline.

多年來，韓國一直在和日益嚴重的人口危機作鬥爭。該國的生育率屢創歷史新低，幾乎在全球墊底。與此同時，韓國的人口繼續老化，導致人口減少。

But last year's census data, released by the Ministry of Interior and Safety on Monday, appears even more alarming.

但是韓國內政安全部週一（1月4日）公佈的去年人口普查數據更令人擔憂。

There were only 275,815 births, a record low -- compared to 307,764 deaths, a 3.1% increase in fatalities from the previous year. This is the first time South Korea has hit the "population death cross," when the number of deaths surpasses births, the ministry said in a news release -- and the first time the total population has shrunk.

數據顯示，韓國去年新生兒數量只有27萬5815人，創歷史新低，與此同時，死亡人數達到30萬7764人，同比增加3.1%。內政安全部在新聞稿中宣佈，這是韓國首次出現死亡人數超過出生人數的“人口死亡數拐點”，也是總人口第一次出現縮水。

The population continues to age rapidly, the census showed: 32.7% of people are in their 40s and 50s, and nearly a quarter are over the age of 60.

普查數據顯示，韓國人口繼續快速老化：32.7%的人口爲四十多或五十多歲，近四分之一的人口超過60歲。

"The constant decline in birth rate shows that low birth rate remains as a big issue in Korea," the release said. "There needs to be a fundamental change in the governmental policies such as welfare, education, and national defense, accordingly."

新聞稿稱：“生育率的持續下降表明，低生育率依然是韓國的一個大問題。政府需要相應地在福利、教育、國防等政策上做出根本改變。”

The release didn't mention causes of death, or how much the Covid-19 pandemic influenced last year's figures. The pandemic has killed 981 people in South Korea so far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

新聞稿沒有提及死亡原因，以及新冠疫情對去年數據的影響有多大。約翰斯·霍普金斯大學的統計數據顯示，迄今爲止疫情已經導致韓國981人喪生。

But Korean experts have previously warned that the pandemic could skew the number of births and deaths -- both because of the higher number of Covid-related deaths, and because the circumstances of the pandemic could discourage couples from having children.

但是先前韓國專家曾警告，疫情可能會改變韓國的出生和死亡人數。一方面是因爲新冠疫情導致更多人死亡，另一方面是因爲疫情會遏制韓國夫婦生育的願望。

In a report published in December 2020, the central Bank of Korea warned that the country's falling birth rates and aging population would likely "accelerate" due to the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic caused greater job and income insecurity for young adults in their 20s and 30s -- potentially disrupting their plans to start a family. Economic and personal anxieties may cause them to delay having children; in some cases, a temporary postponement on childbirth could turn permanent, said the report.

在2020年12月發佈的一份報告中，韓國銀行（央行）警告稱，該國的生育率下降和人口老齡化可能會在新冠疫情的影響下“加速”。受疫情影響，二三十歲的年輕人工作和收入更加不穩定，從而有可能打亂他們生孩子的計劃。報告稱，經濟和個人焦慮或許會讓他們推遲要小孩，在某些情況下，暫時推遲生育可能會轉變成永久不育。

The bank warned that South Korea may soon have the highest proportion of elderly people in the world, and urged stronger policies and childbirth incentives to sustain the country's economy.

韓國銀行警告，韓國的老年人比例可能很快將達到世界最高水平，並敦促政府採取更強有力的政策和生育激勵措施來支撐該國經濟。

Other countries with low fertility rates have also seen their demographic difficulties deepen during the pandemic. Japan, which has struggled for years with low birth rates and an aging population, saw the number of reported pregnancies and marriages fall in the first half of 2020.

在其他生育率低的國家，人口難題也在疫情期間進一步加劇。多年來一直受低生育率和人口老齡化困擾的日本2020年上半年報告的懷孕和結婚人數都出現下降。

In October, Japanese Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Tetsushi Sakamoto told reporters that the pandemic might be discouraging people from getting pregnant and starting families.

去年十月，日本少子化對策專任大臣阪本哲志告訴記者稱，疫情可能會阻止人們懷孕生小孩。

There are similar reasons behind both Japan and South Korea's population decline -- a major one being a demanding work culture that makes it difficult to balance careers with family life.

日本和韓國人口減少背後都有相似的原因，其中一個主要原因是嚴苛的工作文化，讓人難以平衡事業和家庭生活。

There is also a trend to delay or avoid marriage. In 2018, a majority of South Koreans aged 20 to 44 were single, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHSA). Among those who were not dating, 51% of men and 64% of women said they chose not to date so they can enjoy their hobbies or focus on education. Many say they just don't have the time, money, or emotional capacity to go on dates.

晚婚或不婚的風潮也在韓國蔓延。韓國保健及社會事務研究所的數據顯示，2018年大多數年齡在20歲和44歲之間的韓國人爲單身。那些沒有在約會的單身人士中，有51%的男性和64%的女性稱，他們選擇不約會是爲了從事自己的愛好或專心學習。許多人表示，不約會只是因爲沒有時間、金錢或情感能力。

In an effort to combat the falling birth and marriage rates, South Korea's government has implemented a number of initiatives and policies. In 2018, the government lowered maximum working hours from 68 hours a week to 52 hours last year, with some experts pointing to the declining fertility rate as a motivator.

爲了對抗生育率和結婚率的下降，韓國政府已經實施了多項計劃和政策。2018年，韓國政府將每週最長工作時間從68小時縮短爲去年的52小時，一些專家指出生育率的下降是一個刺激因素。

More recently in December, the government released its 4th Basic Plan for Low Fertility and Aging Society, which lays out their plans for population policy over the next five years, including offering cash bonuses for childbirth, subsidies for childcare, and expanded benefits for multi-child families.

近期的舉措是，韓國政府於12月發佈了第四次低生育率和老齡化社會基本規劃，規劃中部署了未來五年的人口政策，包括提供生育現金紅包、育兒津貼，並增加了多孩家庭的福利。