The 8th KOSTAT-UNFPA Global Symposium was held in response to the pressing global issue of low fertility, explored through the lens of ‘demographic resilience.’ With approximately two-thirds of the global population living in countries with a total fertility rate (TFR) below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, fertility challenges are urgent. At the individual level, a gap exists between desired and actual fertility, signaling the inability of people to fully realize their reproductive rights.

The event brought together experts from academia, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and policymakers to discuss evidence and concrete examples across seven key policy areas: 1) Parental Leave, 2) Supporting Conditions for Young People, 3) Childcare, 4) Financial Support for Childbearing, 5) Housing, 6) Gender and Social Norms, and 7) Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

All discussions were grounded in the concept of ‘demographic resilience,’ emphasizing a shift from fragmented, reactive responses to integrated, anticipatory solutions for demographic challenges.