South Koreans appear to hold more favorable views of marriage and childrearing than they did two years ago.

According to Statistics Korea on Tuesday, 52-point-five percent of some 36-thousand people aged 13 and older polled in May said people should get married, up two-point-five percentage points from 2022.

Sixty-eight-point-four percent said married couples should have children, up three-point-one percentage points.

Thirty-one-point-three percent of the respondents said they remained unmarried for financial reasons, with 15-point-four percent mentioning the cost burdens associated with childbirth and childrearing.

Thirty-three-point-four percent said state support for housing would be the most effective way to tackle the nation’s low birth rate, while 20-point-eight percent called for state support for young job seekers.

Meanwhile, a growing number of South Koreans expressed positive attitudes toward couples living together or having children without getting married.

Cohabiting is an option that 67-point-four percent said they might consider, up two-point-two percentage points, while 37-point-two percent said they might consider having a child without being married.