South Koreas birthrate was the worlds lowest in 2009. If this continues, its population is expected to decrease by 13% to  in 2050. South Koreas annual birthrate is approximately 9 births per 1000 people. However the birthrate has increased by 5.7% since 2010 and Korea no longer has the worlds lowest birthrate. According to a 2011 report from The Chosun Ilbo, South Koreas total fertility rate (1.23 children born per woman) is higher than those of Taiwan (1.15) and Japan (1.21). The average life expectancy in 2008 was 79.10 years, (which was 34th in the world) but by 2015 it had increased to around 81. South Korea has the steepest decline in working age population of the OECD nations. In 2015, National Statistical Office estimated that the population of the country will have reached its peak by 2035.. Which country had the lower fertility rate in 2011, South Korea or Japan?