Japan has recorded its lowest birth rate in 125 years, with only 720,988 babies born in 2024, marking a 5% decline from the previous year. Despite ongoing government initiatives aimed at encouraging childbirth, the country’s demographic crisis continues to worsen, raising concerns about its long-term societal and economic stability.
According to preliminary government figures released on Thursday, Japan’s birth rate has been falling for nine consecutive years. The figures also show a record 1.6 million deaths in 2024, meaning the country’s population shrank by nearly 900,000 people when factoring in immigration.
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida previously warned that Japan was approaching a critical juncture, questioning whether the nation could continue functioning as a society amid its rapidly ageing population. With nearly 30% of Japan’s population now over the age of 65, the burden on younger generations to sustain healthcare and social security systems is growing increasingly unsustainable. The government has introduced various financial incentives and workplace reforms, such as a four-day workweek experiment in Tokyo, but these measures have yet to reverse the trend.
The Financial Times has highlighted Japan’s demographic struggle, noting that experts had initially hoped for a baby boom following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this anticipated increase in births has failed to materialize, exacerbating concerns about the country’s shrinking workforce and economic future. In contrast, South Korea recently reported a slight rise in its fertility rate for the first time in nine years, partly driven by an increase in marriages.
Japan’s current birth figures are even more alarming when compared to past projections. A 2011 study by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had estimated that births would not drop to 720,000 until 2039, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
As the government struggles to reverse the declining birth rate, Japan faces mounting challenges in sustaining its economy and social infrastructure. Whether more drastic measures will be introduced remains to be seen, but without a significant shift, the nation’s demographic future looks increasingly uncertain.
