The health ministry has reported that Japan’s birth rate has hit a record low for the seventh consecutive year in 2022, highlighting the country’s population crisis as it rapidly shrinks and ages. The fertility rate, which is the average number of children born in a woman’s lifetime, was 1.2565, lower than the previous low of 1.2601 set in 2005 and significantly lower than the 2.07 rate required to keep the population stable. Despite the country’s high debt levels, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made it a top priority to spend $3.5 trillion yen ($25 billion) annually on child care and other parental support measures to reverse the declining birth rate. The youth population is expected to decline precipitously by the 2030s, and Kishida has emphasized that the time until then is Japan’s last chance to reverse the trend of dwindling births. The pandemic has worsened Japan’s demographic challenges, with fewer marriages leading to fewer births and COVID-19 being partly responsible for more deaths. According to the data, Japan’s birth rate fell by 5% last year to 770,747, a record low, while the death rate rose by 9% to a new high of 1.57 million. In 2018, the coronavirus pandemic killed over 47,000 people in Japan.
Japan’s aging population has become a major issue in recent years as the country’s birthrate declined to a record low.
Recent data shows that the total fertility rate hit a new record low in 2018, far below the level required to maintain population levels. At current levels, the Japanese population is projected to shrink by nearly 14 million by 2050.
The lack of population growth is leading to a labor shortage that is expected to further strain an already struggling economy. The government has implemented a variety of measures to address the problem, including providing financial and childcare support for families and introducing incentives to encourage businesses to hire more workers.
However, these measures have not yielded the desired results. The fertility rate is still far below the level required for population replacement, and the population continues to decline.
The issue of Japan’s aging population is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on the country’s economy and society. With fewer workers and a shrinking tax base, there may be less money available for social welfare programs and other public services. Additionally, the elderly population is expected to strain an already weak pension system.
Japan’s declining population could also have effects beyond its borders. A shrinking labor force could affect Japan’s ability to remain a competitive global player, and a shrinking population could reduce Japan’s influence in regional and international organizations.
This situation calls for decisive action if Japan is to avert a serious demographic crisis. The government must take steps to promote population growth and ensure that the existing workforce is used to its full potential. At the same time, efforts must be made to ensure that social welfare services are protected for the country’s elderly citizens. Only by taking decisive action can Japan begin to address its demographic challenges.
