There's been many countries who've reversed declining birthrates to some extent. Almost all European countries and the US did so after WW2, the US had a birthra

There's been many countries who've reversed declining birthrates to some extent. Almost all European countries and the US did so after WW2, the US had a birthrate below replacement in the 30s. Many cities in the western world had fertility rates well below 1.5 some under 1, Vienna is the most striking example with a tfr of about 0.6 about as low as South Korea right now. Besides European countries you have many of the Soviet countries who had a rebound, Kazakhstan is the greatest example, going from 1.8 to 3. Israel was mentioned by others. I also don't think the better life => less kids holds true at this point. Plenty of countries in deep troubles (e.g. Tunisia) have birthrates far below the US or some other western countries. Having a phone is enough to keep people distracted. Those who do well financially (at least relatively in their own country) get more kids, I've heard about people working for TSMC getting twice as many kids vs their non TSMC peers. If somehow everyone was able to have a stable job, could afford good housing, wasn't obsessed about the rat race you'd see birthrates close to replacement (like you see them in regions of the US where these conditions are mostly met). Sadly this isn't going to happen.