Japan’s Serious Population Crisis Deepens

Japan’s population has declined for the 15th consecutive year, according to new government statistics.

Just under 730,000 babies were born in the “super-old society” last year, the lowest figure on record, and a record 1.58 million deaths were recorded, according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Japan’s aging population and falling birth rate are challenging Asia’s second-largest economy, threatening to strain its welfare system. These trends have prompted both national and local governments to enact measures, such as increased spending on child care and immigration reforms, to address the demographic crisis.

Japan’s population, which peaked in 2009, stood at 124.89 million as of Jan. 1, according to statistics. That includes about 3.32 million foreigners. The number of foreign residents in the country known for its strict immigration laws is growing and has resumed its upward trend after a lull caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The percentage of very young Japanese (aged 0–14) is 14.1 million, a number that has been decreasing year by year since the survey began 30 years ago.

The number of working-age people (15-64) in Japan is just under 74 million, while the number of people aged 65 and over is 36.23 million, down 9,000 and the first decline in this demographic group since the country began keeping statistics in 1950. However, the number of people aged 75 and over exceeds 20 million for the first time.

Just 727,277 babies were born in Japan last year, down 43,482 from 2022 and the lowest number since Japan began keeping records in 1899, according to NHK. Japan’s Health Ministry has described the situation as “critical” and warned that the country has until around 2030 to significantly increase its birth rate.

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 and pledged to double national spending on child care within a decade.

The government has earmarked $34 billion in childcare subsidies and other incentives to encourage raising children. Local governments are also rolling out initiatives, such as a dating app created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The number of marriages fell to 474,717 last year, the lowest level since the end of World War II. Marriage correlates strongly with births in Japan, where less than 3 percent of children are born out of wedlock.

In June, the Japanese parliament updated the rules to allow foreign workers to stay in the country longer. Eligible workers can now change jobs in the same industry after a year. Previous reforms made it easier for some foreign workers to obtain permanent residency and invite family members to live with them.

Japan’s demographic and population crisis is also affecting its East Asian neighbours, including China, Taiwan and South Korea, whose fertility rates are 1.0, 0.85 and 0.72, respectively.