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The proportion of unmarried individuals in their 40s increased 6.7 times for men and 5.7 times for women in 2020 compared with 20 years earlier, a government report showed Thursday, underscoring the trend of delayed marriages that is partly blamed for Korea's ultra-low birthrate.

The growing trend is attributed to delayed marriages and a rise in lifelong singlehood, according to the annual social report by Statistics Korea. The report offers insights into the status of Korean society and key trends based on statistical analysis.

In 2020, 23.6 percent of men and 11.9 percent of women in their 40s were unmarried, compared with just 3.5 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively, in 2000, the report showed.

The report also found that only a small portion of unmarried individuals aged 19–34 consider marriage to be essential.

A growing majority of this age group expressed positive attitudes toward unconventional marital arrangements, such as cohabitation or having children out of wedlock.

"Unmarried individuals across all age groups tend to exhibit more gender-equal attitudes toward household responsibilities," an agency official said.

While attitudes toward non-traditional family structures are similar among married and unmarried individuals in their 20s and 30s, the report noted a more positive perception among unmarried individuals in their 40s.

Among unmarried individuals aged 19–34, men were more likely than women to express an intention to marry, the report showed. Additionally, those in better economic and health conditions were more inclined to consider marriage.

The report estimated 153,044 individuals aged 13–34, or 1.3 percent of the population in this age group, were "young caregivers" in 2020. Caregivers are those primarily responsible for providing care within their households.

The report revealed that 22.1 percent of these young caregivers expressed dissatisfaction with life, with those dedicating over 15 hours a week to caregiving reporting significantly lower levels of life satisfaction.

"Many of these young caregivers struggle to make future plans due to their caregiving responsibilities," said the official, citing the burden as another factor behind young people delaying marriage. (Yonhap)