Japan’s population crisis is deepening. The number of children under 15 has hit a record low of 13.66 million. That’s down 350,000 from last year. Boys make up 6.99 million, while girls are 6.66 million. The youngest group, aged 0-2, is the smallest at 2.22 million. This mirrors Japan’s falling birth rate.
For 51 years straight, the share of kids in the population has shrunk. It’s now just 11.1%. The drop is the 44th in a row. Okinawa has the highest proportion of kids at 15.8%. Shiga and Saitama follow at 12.7%. Akita has the lowest at 8.8%, trailed by Aomori at 9.8% and Hokkaido at 9.9%.
Japan has one of the world’s oldest populations. The country faces a dual crisis: too few births and too many elderly. This strains the economy, workforce, and social welfare.
Impact on Society
Japan’s falling population affects more than just numbers. It changes the fabric of society. Fewer young people mean fewer workers to support the elderly. This puts pressure on the pension system and healthcare.
The government is aware of the issue. It has been tracking the decline for years. The latest figures were released on Japan’s Children’s Day, May 5. The data serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead. Japan must find ways to boost its birth rate or face the consequences of an aging population.