多年來韓國(guó)一直在同少子化問題和人口老齡化問題作斗爭(zhēng)，然而過去的一年給了韓國(guó)又一個(gè)打擊。人口普查數(shù)據(jù)顯示，去年韓國(guó)死亡人數(shù)首次超過了出生人數(shù)，總?cè)丝诘谝淮纬霈F(xiàn)負(fù)增長(zhǎng)。

South Korea recorded more deaths than births in 2020 for the first time ever, prompting calls for action to revive the country's falling fertility rate.

韓國(guó)2020年記錄的死亡人數(shù)有史以來第一次超過了出生人數(shù)，這促使人們呼吁出臺(tái)措施提高不斷降低的生育率。

For years, South Korea has struggled with a growing demographic crisis. The country's fertility rate has repeatedly hit record lows, and ranks near the bottom of the lowest fertility rates in the world. Meanwhile, South Korea's population continues to age, sending the country into a demographic decline.

多年來，韓國(guó)一直在和日益嚴(yán)重的人口危機(jī)作斗爭(zhēng)。該國(guó)的生育率屢創(chuàng)歷史新低，幾乎在全球墊底。與此同時(shí)，韓國(guó)的人口繼續(xù)老化，導(dǎo)致人口減少。

But last year's census data, released by the Ministry of Interior and Safety on Monday, appears even more alarming.

但是韓國(guó)內(nèi)政安全部周一（1月4日）公布的去年人口普查數(shù)據(jù)更令人擔(dān)憂。

There were only 275,815 births, a record low -- compared to 307,764 deaths, a 3.1% increase in fatalities from the previous year. This is the first time South Korea has hit the "population death cross," when the number of deaths surpasses births, the ministry said in a news release -- and the first time the total population has shrunk.

數(shù)據(jù)顯示，韓國(guó)去年新生兒數(shù)量只有27萬5815人，創(chuàng)歷史新低，與此同時(shí)，死亡人數(shù)達(dá)到30萬7764人，同比增加3.1%。內(nèi)政安全部在新聞稿中宣布，這是韓國(guó)首次出現(xiàn)死亡人數(shù)超過出生人數(shù)的“人口死亡數(shù)拐點(diǎn)”，也是總?cè)丝诘谝淮纬霈F(xiàn)縮水。

The population continues to age rapidly, the census showed: 32.7% of people are in their 40s and 50s, and nearly a quarter are over the age of 60.

普查數(shù)據(jù)顯示，韓國(guó)人口繼續(xù)快速老化：32.7%的人口為四十多或五十多歲，近四分之一的人口超過60歲。

"The constant decline in birth rate shows that low birth rate remains as a big issue in Korea," the release said. "There needs to be a fundamental change in the governmental policies such as welfare, education, and national defense, accordingly."

新聞稿稱：“生育率的持續(xù)下降表明，低生育率依然是韓國(guó)的一個(gè)大問題。政府需要相應(yīng)地在福利、教育、國(guó)防等政策上做出根本改變。”

The release didn't mention causes of death, or how much the Covid-19 pandemic influenced last year's figures. The pandemic has killed 981 people in South Korea so far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

新聞稿沒有提及死亡原因，以及新冠疫情對(duì)去年數(shù)據(jù)的影響有多大。約翰斯·霍普金斯大學(xué)的統(tǒng)計(jì)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，迄今為止疫情已經(jīng)導(dǎo)致韓國(guó)981人喪生。

But Korean experts have previously warned that the pandemic could skew the number of births and deaths -- both because of the higher number of Covid-related deaths, and because the circumstances of the pandemic could discourage couples from having children.

但是先前韓國(guó)專家曾警告，疫情可能會(huì)改變韓國(guó)的出生和死亡人數(shù)。一方面是因?yàn)樾鹿谝咔閷?dǎo)致更多人死亡，另一方面是因?yàn)橐咔闀?huì)遏制韓國(guó)夫婦生育的愿望。

In a report published in December 2020, the central Bank of Korea warned that the country's falling birth rates and aging population would likely "accelerate" due to the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic caused greater job and income insecurity for young adults in their 20s and 30s -- potentially disrupting their plans to start a family. Economic and personal anxieties may cause them to delay having children; in some cases, a temporary postponement on childbirth could turn permanent, said the report.

在2020年12月發(fā)布的一份報(bào)告中，韓國(guó)銀行（央行）警告稱，該國(guó)的生育率下降和人口老齡化可能會(huì)在新冠疫情的影響下“加速”。受疫情影響，二三十歲的年輕人工作和收入更加不穩(wěn)定，從而有可能打亂他們生孩子的計(jì)劃。報(bào)告稱，經(jīng)濟(jì)和個(gè)人焦慮或許會(huì)讓他們推遲要小孩，在某些情況下，暫時(shí)推遲生育可能會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)變成永久不育。

The bank warned that South Korea may soon have the highest proportion of elderly people in the world, and urged stronger policies and childbirth incentives to sustain the country's economy.

韓國(guó)銀行警告，韓國(guó)的老年人比例可能很快將達(dá)到世界最高水平，并敦促政府采取更強(qiáng)有力的政策和生育激勵(lì)措施來支撐該國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)。

Other countries with low fertility rates have also seen their demographic difficulties deepen during the pandemic. Japan, which has struggled for years with low birth rates and an aging population, saw the number of reported pregnancies and marriages fall in the first half of 2020.

在其他生育率低的國(guó)家，人口難題也在疫情期間進(jìn)一步加劇。多年來一直受低生育率和人口老齡化困擾的日本2020年上半年報(bào)告的懷孕和結(jié)婚人數(shù)都出現(xiàn)下降。

In October, Japanese Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Tetsushi Sakamoto told reporters that the pandemic might be discouraging people from getting pregnant and starting families.

去年十月，日本少子化對(duì)策專任大臣坂本哲志告訴記者稱，疫情可能會(huì)阻止人們懷孕生小孩。

There are similar reasons behind both Japan and South Korea's population decline -- a major one being a demanding work culture that makes it difficult to balance careers with family life.

日本和韓國(guó)人口減少背后都有相似的原因，其中一個(gè)主要原因是嚴(yán)苛的工作文化，讓人難以平衡事業(yè)和家庭生活。

There is also a trend to delay or avoid marriage. In 2018, a majority of South Koreans aged 20 to 44 were single, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHSA). Among those who were not dating, 51% of men and 64% of women said they chose not to date so they can enjoy their hobbies or focus on education. Many say they just don't have the time, money, or emotional capacity to go on dates.

晚婚或不婚的風(fēng)潮也在韓國(guó)蔓延。韓國(guó)保健及社會(huì)事務(wù)研究所的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，2018年大多數(shù)年齡在20歲和44歲之間的韓國(guó)人為單身。那些沒有在約會(huì)的單身人士中，有51%的男性和64%的女性稱，他們選擇不約會(huì)是為了從事自己的愛好或?qū)Ｐ膶W(xué)習(xí)。許多人表示，不約會(huì)只是因?yàn)闆]有時(shí)間、金錢或情感能力。

In an effort to combat the falling birth and marriage rates, South Korea's government has implemented a number of initiatives and policies. In 2018, the government lowered maximum working hours from 68 hours a week to 52 hours last year, with some experts pointing to the declining fertility rate as a motivator.

為了對(duì)抗生育率和結(jié)婚率的下降，韓國(guó)政府已經(jīng)實(shí)施了多項(xiàng)計(jì)劃和政策。2018年，韓國(guó)政府將每周最長(zhǎng)工作時(shí)間從68小時(shí)縮短為去年的52小時(shí)，一些專家指出生育率的下降是一個(gè)刺激因素。

More recently in December, the government released its 4th Basic Plan for Low Fertility and Aging Society, which lays out their plans for population policy over the next five years, including offering cash bonuses for childbirth, subsidies for childcare, and expanded benefits for multi-child families.

近期的舉措是，韓國(guó)政府于12月發(fā)布了第四次低生育率和老齡化社會(huì)基本規(guī)劃，規(guī)劃中部署了未來五年的人口政策，包括提供生育現(xiàn)金紅包、育兒津貼，并增加了多孩家庭的福利。

英文來源：美國(guó)有線電視新聞網(wǎng)

翻譯&編輯：丹妮