Japan reached an unprecedented demographic threshold, with over 10% of its population now being 80 years or above, according to the national data released by the Japanese government on September 18.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications disclosed that Japan’s elderly population, defined as those aged 65 and above, also reached a historic high, constituting a staggering 29.1% of the total population which solidified Japan’s position as the country with the highest percentage of elderly citizens in the world.
These figures were released to commemorate Respect for the Aged Day, a public holiday in Japan. While it’s a day to celebrate the elderly, it also highlights the critical issues Japan faces regarding its aging population, including concerns related to pensions and healthcare as the demand for these services intensifies.
Japan’s demographic woes have been escalating since its economic heyday in the 1980s. The nation’s fertility rate, currently at 1.3, falls far below the 2.1 required to maintain a stable population in the absence of significant immigration. For over a decade, Japan witnessed deaths outpacing births, presenting a formidable challenge for the leaders of the world’s third-largest economy.
Compounding the issue is Japan’s impressive life expectancy, which contributed to the ballooning elderly population. To counteract the labor shortage and stimulate the sluggish economy, the Japanese government actively encouraged seniors and stay-at-home mothers to rejoin the workforce over the past decade.
This initiative yielded some success, with a record-breaking 9.12 million elderly workers in Japan, marking 19 consecutive years of growth. Workers aged 65 and older now constitute over 13% of the national workforce, according to the Internal Affairs Ministry.
Despite these efforts, Japan still grapples with the profound social and economic repercussions of its demographic crisis. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned in January that Japan stands “on the brink of not being able to maintain social functions.” He emphasized that child-rearing support is the government’s top priority, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.
Japan’s demographic challenges are not unique, with neighboring countries like China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan grappling with similar crises. Encouraging young people to have more children in the face of rising living costs and social discontent remains a shared struggle across the region.