Japan is facing a significant demographic challenge as the number of children in the country has dropped to another record low. According to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, the population of kids 14 years old or younger has fallen for the 43rd consecutive year to around 14.01 million as of April 1. The ratio of children to Japan’s total population has also decreased to 11.3%, reaching an all-time low.
This decline in the number of children is a reflection of Japan’s overall population decrease that began around 2010. This trend has resulted in chronic labor shortages within the country, while the ratio of elderly individuals in Japan continues to rise, putting pressure on the nation’s medical and social security expenditures.
With Japan’s birth rate remaining one of the lowest in the world and well below the replacement rate, the situation is expected to worsen in the future. These demographic challenges are significant for Asia’s second biggest economy and highlight the need for solutions to address the declining number of children and the aging population in Japan.