South Korea Pet Strollers Outsold Baby Strollers
Shocking new research has indicated a significant global population decline. As a result, several sources have suggested that if the decline continues, humans may be outnumbered by pets. For instance, countries such as South Korea are experiencing urgent problems with dropping birth rates as global population dynamics shift. The dynamics have been so damaging that pet strollers have surpassed baby strollers in popularity in South Korea. This finding underlines a broader issue: the country’s rapidly declining birth rate, which as of 2023 fell to a historic low.
Furthermore, to provide a visual grasp of South Korea’s current issues. The percentages below represent the number of pet and infant strollers sold over the years. According to data recently released, 43% of all strollers sold on a platform during the first three quarters of 2024 were for human infants, while the remaining 57% were designed for animals, mainly dogs and cats. This data clearly shows that pet strollers outsold baby strollers by 14%. Additionally, the infant stroller sales ratio has continuously decreased since 2021, dropping from 67% and 64% in 2020 to 43% this year. In comparison, pet stroller usage rose from 33% in 2021 to 36% in 2022 and 57% this year.
Baby’s Vs. Pet’s
In addition, South Korean statistics suggest that the average fertility rate per woman in 2022 was of 0.78. It’s also worth noting that the average number of children born to women in 2022 was the lowest in the globe. However, the figure is projected to fall far lower. According to the national statistical office, the fertility rate is expected to be 0.72 this year and decline below 0.7 to 0.68 in 2024 before rising again. Which is obviously a huge concern and issue.
Meanwhile, the number of households that own pets is growing. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, more than 6 million households had pets in 2013, up from 3.6 million in 2012. This suggesting that the number of pets in households continues to grow over the years.
South Korea ‘A National Emergency’
Moreover, it is clear that the world is changing, view is altering, and priorities are evolving. As a result of the societal shift, parents are concerned that their children will prioritize their pets over their relationships with peers. This is because a declining population may result in a generation that is less likely to build relationships with other children their age and instead devote their time and attention to their cherished pets. People are also concerned that the absence of marriage and children in the general population will worsen as time goes on. As the South Korean labor minister Kim Moon-Soo stated in 2023,
Instead, they love their dogs and carry them around. They don’t get married, and they don’t Also, another source of concern comes from South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol. He too, has no children and owns a dog. Regardless of his own background, he emphasizes and speaks about the long-term economic ramifications of an aging and declining population. Meaning, he reinforces the notion that society cannot exist without future generations. Also refers to the lack of population increase as a “demographic national emergency”. This is because as fewer young people enter the workforce, the country risks a labor deficit, jeopardizing economic productivity and growth.
A ‘Patriarchal Culture’
Now, numerous individuals may be asking what caused the substantial fall in population. One of the primary causes of South Korea’s dropping fertility rate is its patriarchal society and high workplace demands. Former gender equality minister Chung Hyun-back even indicated that this element was one of the major obstacles to her goal of increasing fertility. She even stated herself that she chooses to stay childless in order to focus on her job.
This is a significant issue because it is widely acknowledged that in a society where professional success is highly valued, women frequently face a “motherhood penalty,” which discourages them from having children due to concerns about job setbacks and workplace discrimination. This cultural expectation promotes the idea that a woman’s primary value is tied to her accomplishments at work, leaving little opportunity for juggling parenting and career goals.
Men, on the other hand, are not expected to share equal obligations for children and housework. However, this serves as an extra impediment for women considering motherhood. Which results in many young couples being reluctant to start a family. Leading to the nation’s dropping birth rates. Overall, this is clearly a problem that needs to be addressed and further analyze. Although many people need to understand that this might not happen soon if society does not adjust its perspective first.
Written by Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
FORTUN: Sales of dog strollers outpace baby strollers in the country with the world’s lowest birth rate
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Nation With Lowest Birthrate Is Rocked by Soaring Sales of Dog Strollers
NDTV: Dog Strollers Outsell Baby Strollers In Country With World’s Lowest Birth Rate: Report
Featured Image Courtesy of angela n. Flickr Page – Creative Common License
Inset Image Courtesy of Tony Alter Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
