In a historic downturn, Japan is on track to see its number of births fall below 700,000 in 2024 for the first time ever. According to government data released on Tuesday, the first half of the year witnessed a 6.3% decline in births compared to the same period last year, totaling 329,998 births, as reported by Kyodo News.
The Health Ministry's statistics, which exclude foreign residents, highlight a sustained trend of record-low birth rates in recent years. This decline is attributed to fewer people choosing to marry or opting to delay marriage and parenthood. As societal norms shift, more individuals are deciding to have children later in life, contributing to the downward trend.
Compounding the issue, the number of deaths rose by 1.8% to reach 800,274 in the first six months of 2024, resulting in a natural population decline of 470,276. This marks the 15th consecutive year of population decrease in Japan as of 2023.
In response to the demographic crisis, the Japanese government is implementing measures aimed at increasing the birth rate. These initiatives include expanding childcare allowances and providing enhanced benefits for parents taking leave. Officials emphasize that the early 2030s represent the \"last chance\" to reverse the declining birthrate and stabilize the population.
Preliminary data released in August further underscored the severity of the situation, revealing that births including those to foreigners and Japanese citizens residing overseas fell by 5.7% to a record low of 350,074 between January and June. As Japan grapples with this demographic challenge, the effectiveness of government policies in encouraging family growth remains to be seen.
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Japan's births 'likely to dip below 700,000' for 1st time in 2024
cgtn.com
