The number of newborns in South Korea dipped again in November, government data showed Wednesday, in the latest sign of the chronic low birth rate that has plagued the Asian country for more than a decade.

About 27,000 babies were born in November, down 11.2 percent, or 3,400, from 30,400 tallied a year earlier, according to data from Statistics Korea.

Monthly childbirths have decreased on-year every month since December 2015, with double-digit declines for 12 straight months.

Should the current pace be maintained, the number of newborns is expected to reach around 360,000 for this year, breaking the annual record low of 406,200 babies, tallied in 2016, according to officials.