The number of newborns in July stood at just over 22-thousand, the lowest ever to be recorded for the month, with the country's natural population decline persisting for the 21st month.

According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, 22-thousand-352 babies were born in July, down two-point-eight percent from a year earlier. The on-year decline has been on a 68-month streak since December 2015.

The number of people who died in July stood at 25-thousand-690, up seven-point-one percent on-year. The tally is the highest for July and the on-year jump is the third highest.

The statistical agency said the increased deaths more likely reflect the aging society, rather than the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The natural population decline, derived from subtracting deaths from births, rose to three-thousand-338.