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More than 10 percent of marriages in Korea last year were between Koreans and foreign nationals, rising to the highest level in 13 years, according to Statistics Korea, Tuesday.

In its annual report on marriage and divorce, the statistics agency said the number of international marriages totaled 19,700 in 2023, up 18.3 percent from a year earlier.

International marriages accounted for 10.2 percent of 193,700 marriages reported nationwide in 2023 — the highest ratio since 2010 when the figure stood at 10.5 percent.

"The 2023 ratio of international couples among all newlyweds is noteworthy," a Statistics Korea official said, noting that the ratio had been above 10 percent mostly in the 2000s but remained in the single digit level from 2011 to 2022.

In particular, the rate fell to as low as 6.8 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government tightened travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

"Eased entry rules and an outbound travel boom appear to be offering chances for more Koreans and foreign nationals to meet and get married," the official said.

Of the 19,700 international marriages, 14,700 comprised a Korean husband and a foreign wife. The figure was up 22.5 percent from a year earlier.

The number of couples comprised of a Korean wife and a foreign husband increased 7.5 percent year-on-year to 5,000.

Of the foreign wives, 33.5 percent were from Vietnam, while 18.1 percent came from China and 13.7 percent were Thai.

Of the foreign husbands, 27.7 percent were U.S. citizens, while 18.4 percent were Chinese and 15.8 percent were Vietnamese.

By region, Jeju Island saw the highest ratio of international marriages at 13.4 percent. South Chungcheong Province followed with 12.5 percent and South Jeolla Province with 12.3 percent, while the ratios were low in Sejong City at 6.3 percent and in Daegu at 8.3 percent.

The number of international couples who divorced in 2023 stood at 6,100, up from 5,800 a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the total number of marriages across the country in 2023 reached 193,700, indicating a 1 percent increase from the previous year. This marks the first uptick since 2011, when the statistics agency began compiling year-on-year growth data.

However, the average age for first-time marriage hit a new peak in 2023, rising to 34 years for men, up by 0.3 year compared to 2022. Similarly, women also saw an increase of 0.2 year, with the average age reaching a new record of 31.5.

The trend of marrying at an older age coincides with a looming demographic crisis in Korea, characterized by the country consistently breaking its own record for the world's lowest fertility rate. In 2023, the fertility rate plummeted to 0.72 baby born per woman, down from 0.78 in 2022.