The fifth nationwide survey on perceptions of marriage, childbirth and parenting, conducted by the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy (PCASPP), found increasingly positive attitudes toward family formation among adults aged 25 to 49.
The survey, conducted twice a year using the same questionnaire for 2,800 respondents, showed that 76.4 percent viewed marriage positively, continuing an upward trend since the first survey in 2024.
Among unmarried respondents, positive perceptions of marriage rose to 65.7 percent, up from 55.9 percent two years earlier. Willingness to marry also increased by 6.4 percentage points to 67.4 percent.
Attitudes toward having children likewise improved, with 71.6 percent of respondents saying children are necessary, up 10.5 percentage points from the first survey.
Among respondents without children, willingness to have children rose to 41.8 percent from 32.6 percent.
The committee highlighted the particularly sharp shift among unmarried adults, noting that both perceptions about the importance of having children and willingness to become parents increased by more than 10 percentage points over the past two years.
The survey also indicated that economic pressures and workplace culture remain major barriers to marriage and child-rearing.
When asked what was most important in addressing the country's low birthrate, 83.9 percent of respondents cited the need for stable, well-paying jobs.
Dual-income households said the most urgent need was a workplace culture that supports employees in using childcare benefits, along with broader access to institutional childcare services and guaranteed care hours, including extended daycare and expanded after-school programs.
Respondents also emphasized the need for greater flexibility in balancing work and family responsibilities. Support for flexible working arrangements was particularly strong among women, at 68.6 percent, compared with 53.1 percent among men.
Participants also called for expanded financial support for married couples and families with children, with 51.3 percent favoring broader tax benefits. Support was higher among men at 56.5 percent, compared with 45.8 percent among women.
On housing policy, lowering income thresholds for government-backed home purchase loans and lump-sum rental deposit loan programs was the most commonly cited measure, supported by 45.3 percent of respondents.
The survey also found generally high satisfaction with childcare services, with more than 80 percent of respondents expressing positive views. Families with infants and toddlers prioritized longer childcare hours, while households with elementary school children placed greater emphasis on improving program quality.
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