Japan, one of Asia’s most developed nations, has recorded a new low birth rate in 2024. From January to December last year, only 720,988 babies were born in the country.
Japan’s Ministry of Health released this data in a statement on Thursday. The statement revealed that 1.62 million people died in Japan in 2024. This means that for every newborn, more than two people passed away.
Japan, which spans 377,975 square kilometers, has a total population of 123.54 million. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, Japan has been keeping annual birth and death records since 1899. The highest number of births recorded in a single year was in 1973, when 2.01 million babies were born.
Declining Birth Rate Trends
In 2023, 758,031 babies were born in Japan, which was then the lowest recorded birth rate in a year. The Ministry of Health reported that the birth rate declined by 5% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Due to this continuous decline in birth rates, Japan is now widely recognized as a “nation of the elderly.” Currently, 20% of Japan’s population is aged 65 or older.
Government Efforts and Challenges
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had repeatedly expressed concern over Japan’s declining birth rate. He once stated that if this trend continues, by 2050, there may no longer be a distinct “Japanese” identity. In an effort to boost birth rates, Kishida allocated $260 billion to child welfare programs in 2023.
Current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has also emphasized that tackling the population issue is a top priority for his administration.
However, the situation remains largely unchanged. Sociologists believe that overly busy lifestyles, a stagnant economy, high costs of childcare and education, and shifting social norms are discouraging younger generations from starting families and having children.