By Park Yoon-bae
Staff Reporter

SEOUL - Out of every 1,000 Koreans, only seven couples tied the knot last year, a record low since 1970 when the marriage ratio stood at 9.2 couples per 1000.

According to statistics released May 23 by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the ratio has continued to decline since it reached a high of 10.6 in 1980.

The ratio dropped to 9.3 in 1990, 8.7 in 1995, 8 in 1998 and 7.7 in 1999.

The NSO said 2.5 couples out of every 1,000 persons divorced in 2000, maintaining the record high ratio for the third consecutive year. The rate went up from 0.4 in 1970 to 0.6 in 1980, 1.1 in 1990 and 1.5 in 1995.

About 75.2 percent of divorces were blamed on family discord, followed by financial problems with 10.8 percent.

In Taiwan, 7.9 couples out of every 1,000 persons got hitched in 1999, while the ratio stood at 6.1 in Japan.

However, Korea’s marriage ratio was still much higher than France, Finland and Sweden, which showed 4.8, 4.5 and 3.5, respectively in 1998.

The number of couples tying the knot declined to 334,000 last year, the lowest since 1980 when 403,000 couples married.

The figure for 2000 was down 7.9 percent from 363,000 marriages in 1999.

Since the number of marriages hit the record high in 1980, the figure has steadily decreased to 398,500 in 1995, 388,600 in 1997 and 375,600 in 1998.

"The decrease could be attributed to the shrinking number of people in their 20s and early 30s, extended periods of higher education and more job opportunities," said an NSO official.

He also said there have been significant changes in people’s attitudes toward marriage because a growing number of youths pursue independent lifestyles.

He explained that the number of marriages hit the highest level in 1980 because the "baby boom" generations following the 1950-53 Korean war were most active in seeking spouses.

The NSO reported that 86.7 percent of marriages were first marriages for men in 2000, down from 90.3 percent in 1994 and 88.9 percent in 1997.

The rate of first marriages for women was estimated at 85.2 percent, down from 90.4 percent in 1994 and 88.3 percent in 1997.