Japan's population to fall by more than half a million by 2022

The data includes both immigration and departures. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that excluding immigration, Japan's population fell by 731,000 people - the largest decline on record.

Japan's population to fall by more than half a million people by 2022 figure 1 — Illustration: Kyodo

Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world , as well as one of the highest life expectancies. According to government data, nearly 1 in 1,500 Japanese people live to be over 100.

This shows that Japan's aging population is growing while the young workforce is shrinking, causing a demographic crisis that will last for decades.

All 47 prefectures in Japan, except Tokyo, have reported a decline. One village in central Japan has even recorded just one birth in 25 years.

The situation is so dire that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned lawmakers in January that the country was “on the brink of being unable to maintain social functions” due to the falling birthrate. He said the most important policy was government child-rearing support, and that solving the problem could not wait any longer.

Some scientists argue that population decline could bring environmental benefits such as reducing emissions amid the current climate crisis.

However, in countries like Japan, this situation has resulted in a shrinking young workforce, leading to fewer workers to fund pensions and health care for the elderly.

To address this situation, the Japanese government has taken a number of measures, such as establishing the Children and Family Agency in April to focus on measures to support parents such as establishing more day care centers, as well as providing counseling services for adolescents.

However, similar initiatives have so far failed to turn things around. Busy urban lifestyles leave some Japanese with no time to start a family, and rising living costs mean having children is too expensive for many young people.

Japan is ranked as one of the most expensive places in the world to raise a child in 2022, according to research from financial institution Jefferies.

Hoai Phuong (according to CNN, Kyodo)

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