If current trends are not reversed, the South Korean popu-lation will be halved in 80 years. At the same time, the “Asian tiger” will see its GDP drop to 20th place, this according to a study by the prestigious medical journal Lancet.

The birth rate is hot issue in the Asian country, beset by wage discrimination against women and an unfettered capitalism that leads young couples not to have children in order not to have career problems.

At present, the total popula-tion is around 53 million. It should peak in 2031 at 54.29 million, before plunging to 26.78 million by 2100. At the same time, the economy is likely to take huge steps backwards.

According to Lancet, fewer people “might reduce innovation in economies and fewer workers in general might reduce domestic markets for consumer goods, because many retirees are less likely to purchase consumer durables than middle-aged and young adults.”

Experts estimate that high-income countries with low fertility rates will be forced to adopt more liberal immigration policies and prepare their socie-ties to assimilate newcomers. Otherwise, they can expect economic, fiscal and geopolitical collapse.