The country's population declined for the third consecutive year in 2022 as deaths outpaced births.  

According to tentative data by Statistics Korea on Wednesday, deaths outpaced births by a record high 123-thousand-800 last year, as 249-thousand babies were born and 372-thousand-800 people died. 

The country's population naturally decreased for three straight years since the number of deaths surpassed the number of births for the first time in 2020. 

It marks a drastic turnaround from 1981, when South Korea saw a natural increase of 630-thousand. 

All of the country's 17 major cities and provinces, except Sejong City, had more births than deaths in 2022. 

A surge in the number of deaths amid the rapidly ageing society and the COVID-19 pandemic are seen as key contributing factors to this trend.