Children under the age of 14 are now among 12% of the population

Children under the age of 14 are now among 12% of the population

Japan has been a continuous decline in child population for 44 years, as the government reported on Sunday. The latest data show that the number of children under the age of 15 has dropped to a record low, while the country is faced with a demographic crisis that is characterized by declining birth rates and a quickly aging population.

Current demographic situation

On April 1, 2024, an estimated 13.66 million children aged 14 years and below - a decline of 350,000 compared to the previous year. Children only make up 11.1 % of the total population of Japan, which was 123.4 million last year, which is a slight decline compared to the previous year.

comparison with other countries

For comparison: In 2023, the proportion of children in the USA in the United States was around 21.7 %, while this value in China was 17.1 % in 2024, based on official government numbers.

causes of the demographic crisis

The demographic crisis is one of Japan's most pressing challenges, since the birth rate continuously decreases, despite state efforts, to encourage young people to establish families. The fertility rate in Japan has been relatively constant for years, which is far below the required 2.1 to keep the population stable.

The number of annual deaths has been exceeding births for years, which leads to a permanent decline in the total population. According to the Ministry of Health, Japan recorded 1.62 million deaths in 2024 - more than twice as many as births. The number of marriages rose only slightly by about 10,000 compared to the previous year, but remained at a low level, while the divorce rate also rose.

long -term forecasts

experts assume that the decline in the population will continue to stop for at least several decades and that it can be seen to a certain extent as irreversible development. In this "super-old" country, more than 20 % of the population are older than 65 years. The total of 123.4 million inhabitants in 2024 are expected to drop to around 88 million by 2065.

factors for the decline in birth rates

The reasons for the decline in marriages and births are versatile: the high cost of living, a stagnating economy and wages, limited living space and the demanding work culture of the country play a crucial role. In Japan there is a strong revision culture that causes many young people to concentrate on their careers instead of starting the family.

increasing cost of living, tightened by the weak yen and high inflation, contribute to dissatisfaction with the population.

government measures for family funding

However, the government takes steps to mitigate the effects of demographic changes. New government agencies were founded to increase the birth rate and promote marriages. The initiatives include the expansion of childcare facilities, apartment grants for parents and in some cities even payments to couples to promote family starting.

international comparisons

Several neighboring countries of Japan, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, also fight with a decline in the population. A similar development can also be observed in numerous European countries such as Spain and Italy. In contrast to many Östasian countries, however, the European nations tend to be more open to immigration to alleviate the age structure of their societies.

In the recent past, China, which until recently was the most populous country in the world, has recorded a population decline in 2024, since the number of deaths exceeds new births. India has now overtaken China in terms of population size.

This report was supported by Jessie Yeung of CNN.