Japan's population has declined for the 15th consecutive year, according to new government statistics.
Last year, Japan's "super-aged society" saw just under 730,000 births, a record low, and a record high of 1.58 million deaths, according to the country's Internal Affairs Ministry.
Japan's aging population and declining birth rate pose a challenge for Asia's second-largest economy, threatening to strain its social welfare system. These trends have driven both the national and local governments to pass measures like increased child care spending and immigration reforms in a bid to tackle the demographic crisis.
Japan's population, which peaked in 2009, stood at 124.89 million as of January 1, according to the statistics. This includes approximately 3.32 million foreign nationals. The number of foreign residents, in a country known for its strict immigration laws, has been rising and resumed its upward trend after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proportion of very young Japanese residents (0-14 years) is 14.1 million, a number that has declined each year since surveys began 30 years ago.
Japan's working-age population (15-64 years) stands at just under 74 million, while those aged 65 and older number 36.23 million, down 9,000 and the first decrease in this demographic since the country started keeping track of these statistics in 1950. However, the number of people aged 75 exceeds 20 million for the first time.
Only 727,277 children were born in Japan last year, a drop of 43,482 since 2022 and the lowest figure since Japan began recording statistics in 1899, according to NHK. Japan's Health Ministry described the situation as "critical" and warned that the country has until around 2030 to significantly boost its birthrate.
Japan's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made reversing the declining birth rate a national priority, pledging to double national child care spending within a decade.
The government has allocated $34 billion for child care subsidies and other incentives to encourage child-rearing. Local governments are also introducing initiatives, such as the dating app produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The number of marriages fell to 474,717 last year, the lowest since the end of World War II. Marriages strongly correlate with births in Japan, where fewer than 3 percent of children are born outside of wedlock.
In June, Japan's parliament updated laws to allow foreign workers to stay in the country for longer. Eligible laborers can now switch employment within the same industry after one year. Earlier reforms made it easier for some foreign workers to obtain permanent residency and invite their family members to live with them.
Japan's population crisis is shared by its East Asian neighbors, including China, Taiwan and South Korea, which have fertility rates of 1.0, 0.85, and 0.72, respectively.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
