Japan's population has fallen for the 13th consecutive year, dropping to 124.35 million, with the number of Japanese nationals decreasing by 837,000, the largest drop since 1950. Single-person households are projected to make up 44.3% of all households by 2050, with nearly half of them comprising individuals aged 65 or older. The average household size is expected to decrease, and the number of elderly people living alone is set to increase, necessitating enhanced support for the elderly. Additionally, the population of those aged 75 or above has surpassed 20 million for the first time, while the number of young people has hit a record low. However, the foreign national population has risen, with only Tokyo experiencing a population increase for the second consecutive year.
South Korea's fertility rate, already the lowest in the world, has dropped further, sparking fears of a halving population by 2100. The government has spent billions to reverse the trend, but challenges around work culture, gender relations, and financial burdens deter couples from having children. With the average number of babies per woman falling to 0.72, well below the 2.1 needed for population maintenance, the country faces a potential "national extinction" crisis. Similar issues are also affecting neighboring countries like China and Japan.
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.
