The population of Japanese nationals stood at 120.3 million as of October 2024, down by a record 898,000 from a year earlier, according to a government estimate released on Monday, amid a rapidly aging society and declining birthrate, Kyodo News reported.
The total population in Japan, including foreign residents, also declined by 550,000 to 123.8 million as of October 1, 2024, marking the 14th consecutive year of population decline, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.
It was also the largest annual drop in Japanese nationals since comparable data became available in 1950. The number of children aged 14 and under fell by 343,000 to 13.83 million, representing just 11.2 percent of the population—a new low. The number of people aged 65 and above increased by 17,000 to 36.24 million, reaching a record 29.3 percent.
The working-age population, defined as those between 15 and 64 years old, declined by 224,000 to 73.73 million, comprising 59.6 percent of the overall population.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Japan’s population is projected to shrink by 15 percent, falling to approximately 105.1 million by 2050.
Despite the demographic challenges, life expectancy in Japan continues to rise. It has improved by 2.93 years since 2000, climbing from 81.5 to 84.5 years by 2021. Across the Western Pacific region, life expectancy increased by 5.46 years over the same period, reaching 77.4 years.
The WHO also estimates that by 2025, an additional 6.5 million people in Japan will enjoy better health and well-being compared to 2018, with a projected range between -1.1 million and 12.9 million. The number of people better protected from health emergencies is expected to increase by 10.2 million, ranging from 5.8 million to 12.8 million.
(ANI)