Japan's population falls under 125 mil; 12th year of decline

& the fools think the LDP will fix it !

God help Japan!

The tally by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also showed that the number of Japanese nationals fell by 750,000 to 122,031,000,

this is the number to watch carefully as we don't know how many of the rest of the 124,947,000 will be here in the future.

Only Tokyo lives...

Well - clearly there's a loss in confidence regarding the future. Why else doe BOJ have to play such an outsized role? Buying up assets that nobody else will.

In today's world, country matters not, everything's connected, global technology, borderless. Those that hang on to the old model inevitably fail. It's also why there's a serious brain here for many decades.

Root problem's competitive globally relevant education that promotes TRUE CONNECTION with world, NOT SEPARATION based on historical legacy matters no longer relevant.

After all, if you're so busy educating this historical separation, how can you expect to connect, basis of global digital economy today?

The world is over-populated. Japan should be applauded for showing that it is possible to have a shrinking population. The focus should not be on reversing this trend but, instead, on how to manage the decline. In particular, some imaginative thinking is required on coping with the increasing proportion of elderly. Throwing money at incentive schemes for having children is the wrong solution.

Prudent considering AI and mass-automation will have made 50% of current jobs obsolete within the next 25 years

I'm honestly thinking of starting a family in Japan, but the thought that my wife could divorce me and simply take the kids away and hide somewhere legally is a scary thought. This country really needs to change some of its laws.

Prudent considering AI and mass-automation will have made 50% of current jobs obsolete within the next 25 years

Many view technology advances positive for job creation, wealth building, that's been experience thus far after all, just check out any serious tech hub, money's been moving much faster there than here!

Real key's population stability, endless growth not possible or desirable, northern Europe's doing a great job.

Personally? 99% not having kids will have SERIOUS regret one day, just question of how much and how soon, that's what the research shows anyway.

Pains me to see such people, especially when traveling, and maturity only really happens for most when they prioritize OTHERS, that's magic in life, ethical purpose!

残念. Still, alarm bells were raised at the height of the bubble economy decades ago so I guess they know what they are doing and it is what the country wants.

Parents who are very comfortable and healthy, great grandparents now, they always reminded me....

"We were OUR happiest when we almost nothing but real belief in the future and you 5 kids!"

TRUE stuff folks, that's what's needed here, not excuses and rational to justify mediocrity and selfness.

Japan is too crowded for the tiny island. If the area of the country is considered, sustainable population should be less than half of the current population. Japan currently can only produce a tiny percentage, around 12.5%, of its energy and a very small portion of its food consumption. Current population is not sustainable in long term.

This is promising news, and Japan is on the right track.

Ultimately Japan is heading for a stable population of around 60 million - it will be wonderful for the environment, there will be much, much more room for everyone, trains will be far less crowded and jobs, schools and universities easy to secure. You won't see massive queues for popular ramen shops - which is great news in itself!

The West will use Japan as a role model for population sustainability.

In short- win-win for Japan!

6 kids. Done my part. Now for the locals to catch up.

Well, by that reckoning, John, Singapore would not exist, neither would Dubai and London and New York would reduce to pre-industrial sizes. Nobody says a country or city has to be self-sufficient. That's why there is world trade and lots of exogenous energy to make it and move it about (thanks to which we currently have the equivalent of 13 slaves working 24 hours a day for every single human on Earth). Your long-term can only mean something if you have no confidence in the global trading architecture or that there won't be enough energy. In which case the whole world is overpopulated by at least 50%. But, who knows, you could be right, that Japan is doing the noble thing by reducing its population. Something has to account for the lack of action for all these years. The pre-industrial population was something like 30 million, so some way to go yet.

Good points all but again world's MOVED and EVOLVED BEYOND this legacy country model. Societies that will prosper will have ability to economically participate across the globe in trade and service.

Naturally won't be in Japanese, take Dutch as great example of such successful globally minded educated peaceful stable society.

It’s not always bigger the better. Japan can create a shrinking population transformation model.

Its alarming how this decline is increasing at an exponential rate.

When the population passed its peak almost 15 years ago, the annual declines were really small at first, like just a few thousand a year. Now its up at over half a million a year, and soon it’ll be over a million.

If you believe UK based LANCET medical journal and their highly regarded research. Covid prior infection rapidly increases likelihood of severe disease and death for ALL age groups for YEARS.

Please read, why prior infection contributes to co-morbidly factors/death. We all need to step up our health and not consider this virus FLU LIKE.

World population was prior to Covid expected to peak around 2060, it may be peaking THIS YEAR, as last year was lowest % population increase in recorded history.

This numbers just YTD, given above, likely # of deaths, % increase will be b/w 25-50% THIS YEAR in JAPAN

Not your garden variety flu now is it?

Japan's FY 2022 population decline here was approx. 800K, it'll be likely 1.2M this year

Japan's population falls under 125 mil; 12th year of decline

This is a good sign. Balance the population out and hopefully get a booming middle class.

Nothing to worry about, the LDP already approved a huge increase to the defense budget to correct this with missiles or something.

I'm honestly thinking of starting a family in Japan, but the thought that my wife could divorce me and simply take the kids away and hide somewhere legally is a scary thought. This country really needs to change some of its laws.

I see this here so often, and wonder why in the heck did these folks get married in the first place. There are some SERIOUS issues in this marriage if the first thing in your mind about having kids here is that your spouse can take them away.

Might as well get out of the marriage while you have the chance and marry a woman that doesnt bring these thoughts into your head.

It's also worth noting, kids born 'here' include foreigners, most of whom will leave AND ANY JN married to foreigner or JN couple ANYWHERE in world.

E.g. Mom's young eye doctor in US is JN with his JN wife and their 4 young kids, NONE EVER returning to Japan but kids 'counted' here for birth purposes.

This is a self inflicted wound on a great nation.

Japan must reproduce at at least the replacement rate. If not, at best they'll leave the next generation overburdened or at worst collapse economically and socially.

This is excellent news in a country which is extremely over-populated.

2.4% down on the 2010 peak.

In 2010, there were 1.6 million non-Japanese, so that number has nearly doubled. Without it, the percentage fall would be much higher. The number of Japanese has gone from 126.5 million to 122 million in 12 years.

Out of the 3 miilion nJ, only 200,000, 6%, are over 65. For people with Japanese nationality, 36 million out of 122 million, 29.5% are over 65.

Without more immigration, Japan will fall below 120 million by 2030 and then lose another 10 million by 2040.

https://ecitizen.jp/Population/Country/JP

New Zealand has a vibrant economy. It land area is about the same as Japan less Hokkaido. It has a tiny population of 5.2 million. So a small population is not necessarily a huge problem; the problem is getting there, while avoiding being gobbled up by China.

KEY reason population decline and aging's a problem? Govt. fiscal situation a disaster, too much debt, too many pension obligations, too much medical expense.

Bureaucrats value nothing above THEIR job security after all but there\s this small matter of China, as Japan's hardly excited to take on a Taiwan/Hong Kong status!

@Clay

World population was prior to Covid expected to peak around 2060, it may be peaking THIS YEAR, as last year was lowest % population increase in recorded history.

Of course sorry for the ones who died and their families but in itself seeing the world population peak around now rather than in 2060 seems rather a good thing to me considering all the issues related to overpopulation. Of course it is a country by country case and not exactly what Japan needs!

Someone may like to challenge my logic - and I am always open to it - but the inescapable conclusion seems to be that either falling population is fine or the government has been serially incompetent for decades. The latter could be because government is not the main player. It could be the economic system - companies, especially big ones - hollowing out the society. They have been coddled for a long time and can demand mostly whatever they like, including predation on family time.

In today's world, country matters not, everything's connected, global technology, borderless. Those that hang on to the old model inevitably fail.

Not so fast! The reality is more nuanced. Nationalism, no matter how much you abhor and wish for its demise, isn’t going away anytime soon. Deal with it.

Kids are hard work, it's relentless and expensive. Japan is not so wealthy anymore and I don't think people want to struggle so they just give up. These are the facts.

I'm honestly thinking of starting a family in Japan, but the thought that my wife could divorce me and simply take the kids away and hide somewhere legally is a scary thought.

I wonder how many of these divorces are rooted in lack of money? Not saying it justifies it.

Immigration is the solution to this problem, not incentives for breeding-hesitant Japanese.

@Clay "If you believe the UK based Lancet" ... the Lancet lost all claims to integrity when it published and supported false claims about the origin of Covid.

Don’t know what the problem is, the world needs less people to survive not more! Their economic myopic arguments be damned!

You won't see massive queues for popular ramen shops - which is great news in itself!

Along with the population decline, the number of ramen shops will go into free fall. Those remaining will be even busier than now, catering to the burgeoning number of new poor grateful for the artificially sourced Soylent Corporation goop that, by then, will have replaced the ramen of old. Ramen is people.

It's not about the absolute number of people, it is about the structure of the population. In the case of Japan headed toward an inverted pyramid. Never before has this happened natrually. It's going to be catastrophic. People need to get that into their heads.

It's not about absolute number of people, it is about the structure of the population. In the case of Japan headed toward an inverted pyramid. Never before has this happened natrually. It's going to be catastrophic. People need to get that into their heads.

Great point, why health and staying active so crucial, BUT real key's moving BEYOND country, engaging globally, that's KEY, for EVERYONE!

Good, we are too much..

This is promising news, and Japan is on the right track.

Ultimately Japan is heading for a stable population of around 60 million - it will be wonderful for the environment, there will be much, much more room for everyone, trains will be far less crowded and jobs, schools and universities easy to secure. You won't see massive queues for popular ramen shops - which is great news in itself!

The West will use Japan as a role model for population sustainability.

In short- win-win for Japan!

Good, No fear, Go Japan..

Immigration is the solution to this problem, not incentives for breeding-hesitant Japanese.

Immigration never will be a solution..

This is a good sign. Balance the population out and hopefully get a booming middle class.

On what planet do you live where a shrinking population, an inverted population structure, which only means more and more siphoned to the elderly from the shrinking base of workers, will somehow lead to a "booming middle class"?

More health costs and pension to pay with time for young Japanese or immigrant workers. Who would wish that not to see the money you produce for yourself ? Worse is that each year you get less for working more. That's the future for the next 60 years at least.

Women don't want children, and will never get again to 3 kids each except if money is pouring to buy their Gucci bags and nice international traveling each year. So you have your answer.

This is promising news, and Japan is on the right track.

Ultimately Japan is heading for a stable population of around 60 million

Where do people get these arbitrary numbers from? Countries far smaller than Japan and with much less population density, are also in decline.

Furthermore, let's just take into consideration that the number of births last year was roughly 800,000. Using some rough math: if that number of births were to stabilize and every single one of those kids lived to be exactly 80, you'd have a population of 64,000,000. So what happens when the number falls below that in a few years, based on present trends?

Japan needs to sort out this problem, not listen to good-for-nothing resignation.

it will be wonderful for the environment, there will be much, much more room for everyone, trains will be far less crowded and jobs, schools and universities easy to secure. You won't see massive queues for popular ramen shops - which is great news in itself!

This is not an issue of the total population so much as it is an issue with urban concentration into a few centers.

And crowding around food places is because Japanese people love to bandwagon and queue for popular stuff, and businesses actively encourage such "storming" practices in return. It's the same thing where stores only sell products for a limited time only, even if they are popular, which is utterly baffling - it's not because there's too many people.

A massive concern. Japan's low birth rate is a massive security concern, given the presence of China to the west.

How can we get many of those socially awkward Japanese to find a partner, marry and have kids? Be a real man and a real woman and start a family.

Even if the population increased where do the young people get jobs? Stores are doing away with cashiers very annoying I don't like this robotic system they are forcing on us, but yes, a good way to cut down on overhead by companies.

Folks, it's all about money. The recent administrations have been spending the money of the not-yet-born great-great-great grand children. The government knows it put the future in danger, and expected the sheeples in the collective to start acting like bunnies and do what they do naturally.

Except the bunnies said no!

If they really wanted to solve this problem they would have opened the country up long ago to immigration on an equal level. However, we know this was not going to happen due to a lot of xenophobia. Also, a lot of people know that this isn't a welcoming place, and that the wages are not the greatest. This government has really dropped the ball over the past few decades and have been spending money hand over fist. The population is going to decline and the Japanese can't do enough to save it.

 "If you believe the UK based Lancet" ... the Lancet lost all claims to integrity when it published and supported false claims about the origin of Covid.

False claims? There's still no established Covid linkage in nature, never before in history with ANY OTHER virus.

Just ask anyone in Japan, most believe it's not natural virus after all, like EVERYWHERE else in the world.

HOPE nobody doubts linkage b/w Covid and declining population here in Japan and globally with exception of a few anti science agenda driven radicals.

Immigration is the solution to this problem, not incentives for breeding-hesitant Japanese.

It needs mentioning that immigration is not some magical solution to demographic problems, either. Immigration can help stave off population decline, as it has done for many years in countries like Germany, but you need to remember that immigrants grow old too. To proceed with the example of Germany, that country is one of the largest recipients of immigrants in the world, but it's still aging and is projected to decline in population anyway. Ultimately, you must also do something about fertility, because it's the deciding factor.

And let me just add, these "breeding-hesitant Japanese" are not so by some inherent nature, which you almost seem to say here. They are that way due to the society they live in, and that society can be changed, just as it has before.

Seems like good news in some way.

International migrants will be able to fill the void and make vibrant countryside and towns thrive again with many different cultures, music and food helping progress Japan into to a more international country.

Many mixed marriages will mean a new type of global Japanese who may hopefully alter the stagnant voting process here further down the road.

The LDP knew it was coming and really so what?

Less people in Japan will just mean that taxes will rise so the same ilk of scoundrel ie the self serving politicians will keep their snouts in the trough.

Every school child in Japan knows the gloomy future that is approaching and has done for decades.

People aren’t stupid and won’t accept the useless band-aid-policies on offer at the moment

Its a result of people favoring a lap dog over a child! Pushing a dog in a pram and treating that dog as a child doesn't help the rapidly declining birth rate. Lest we be reminded of those young mothers who put their newborns in lockers or heartlessly flush them down the toilet. What Japan needs to do is :

Offer more help for new parents (avid counciling, frequent visits to offer help and guidance, seminars)

Abolish the high fees and long waiting lists for daycares

Reduce the high cost of school supplies (60,000-80,000 yen for a school bag/uniform)

Pushing dogs in a pram is always weird.