Japan faces crisis as births hit record low for ninth consecutive year
- In 2024, Japan recorded the lowest number of births since records began, with 720,988 babies born.
- A record 1.62 million deaths in Japan meant that more than two people died for every baby born.
- Policymakers urgently need to address the country's demographic crisis as marriage rates are still low.
In Japan, the number of newborns fell to an unprecedented low in 2024, a trend persisting for nine consecutive years. The health ministry reported that only 720,988 babies were born, marking a 5% decline from the previous year. This drop in births occurred alongside a record of 1.62 million deaths, leading to a staggering situation where more than two individuals died for every new baby born. The ongoing decline is attributed to various social factors, including fewer marriages resulting from the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The increasing average age of the population poses a significant challenge, with approximately 30% of residents now over 65 years old, emphasizing an urgent need for policymakers to address these demographic issues. Despite efforts by the government, including initiatives to promote childbearing, the situation remains dire, calling into question the country’s long-term social and economic sustainability. Experts have expressed concern over the potential ramifications of an aging population combined with a declining birth rate on Japan’s labor market and overall economic viability. With just 499,999 marriages reported in 2024, a slight increase of 2.2% compared to the previous year, stakeholders are hopeful that this uptick might encourage more births. Nonetheless, the lingering impact of past declines in marriage rates, particularly a significant drop of 12.7% in 2020, may result in continued challenges in subsequent years. The previous administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attempted several strategies to encourage family growth, but the effects have yet to manifest positively. In contrast, neighboring South Korea recorded an increase in its fertility rate, indicating that Japan’s crisis could be growing more severe in the absence of effective policy measures aimed at improving child-rearing opportunities and general family support systems.