JAPAN’S POPULATION CRISIS: 861,000 PEOPLE LOST IN A YEAR!

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Japan’s population crisis has escalated to alarming levels, with a staggering 861,000-person decline in just one year. This demographic emergency is drastically reshaping the nation’s future and poses significant challenges for policymakers.

The country has faced a 15-year streak of population decline, marked by record-low births of just 730,000 last year and a shocking 1.58 million deaths. With a current population of around 125 million, projections suggest a dramatic drop to only 87 million by 2070. Japan’s fertility rate stands at a perilous low of 1.20, far below the replacement rate of 2.1.

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The consequences of this crisis are profound. Japan’s aging population is overwhelming the nation’s social welfare systems, while labor force shortages threaten economic stability. The proportion of citizens aged 65 or older has skyrocketed to 29 percent, the highest in the world, with this figure set to rise to 40 percent by 2070. The number of older workers has also surged, reaching a record 9.14 million, as many elderly citizens remain in the workforce to fill the gaps.

Falling birth rates are driving the shrinking population, with 350,074 births recorded between January and June—nearly 6 percent fewer than the previous year and the lowest number since 1969. With fewer births and a growing number of elderly citizens, Japan faces an uncertain future unless significant changes are made.

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Sources:

https://www.newsweek.com/japan-news-plans-tackle-population-crisis-2025-2006421

https://www.newsweek.com/japan-news-population-crisis-3-numbers-1954889

https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/coverage/japans-plans-to-tackle-population-crisis-in-2025/

https://www.eria.org/news-and-views/combating-depopulation-in-japan

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/political-pulse/20240615-192075/


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