South Korea’s cost of raising a child grew last year, according to an education ministry survey on Tuesday.

The monthly average per-household cost of bringing up children, including those for childcare, education, food and clothing, totalled 1,116,000 won ($801) in 2024, up 140,000 won ($101) compared to 2021.

This is according to the country’s education ministry survey.

The percentage of total childcare costs to household income declined to 17.8 per cent in 2024 from 19.3 per cent in 2021.

The result was based on a poll of 2,494 households and 3,058 daycare centres between August and December last year.

The survey has been conducted every three years since 2004.

The number of infants and toddlers in the surveyed households was 3,007 in 2024, while employment rates for the households reached 97.0 per cent for fathers and 64.2 per cent for mothers.

Households sending children to daycare centres accounted for 55.3 per cent of the total last year, followed by 26.5 per cent with kindergartens.

The daily average use of daycare centres ran to seven hours and 31 minutes, while the figure for kindergartens reached seven hours and 20 minutes last year. 

(Xinhua/NAN)