"Japan's Births and Marriages Plummet to Record Lows, Prompting Demographic Crisis Warning"

Japan recorded the lowest number of births in 2023 since it began compiling statistics in 1899, with 758,631 babies born, and marriages dropped below half a million for the first time in 90 years. The declining birth rate is attributed to factors such as discouraging job prospects, high living costs, and corporate cultures incompatible with working parents. The government considers the situation a critical state and has implemented measures to support childbirth and families, but experts doubt their effectiveness in addressing the reluctance of young people to marry and have children. Japan's population is projected to decline by about 30% to 87 million by 2070, posing significant implications for the economy and national security.