Population Japan 2001-2020, by gender
In 2020, the total population in Japan slightly increased to over 126.2 million people compared to the previous year, with the female population reaching around 64.9 million, as compared to 61.4 million men.
Due to financial concerns, an increasing share of Japanese at retirement age or older are actively involved in the country’s labor force throughout the past decade, most recently passing 13 percent. Extended work years are one of the factors that the Japanese elderly’s longevity can be attributed to, with others being diet and nutrition as well as active lifestyles such as participating in neighborhood activities and sports.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, official data showed another decline in birth rates compared to the previous year and a steep decline of close to 40 percent in new marriages. The latter especially represents a considerable development, as the majority of Japanese babies are born in wedlock. Several economists predicted that Japan’s economy will not return to its pre-pandemic levels before 2024, pointing towards further problems regarding marriage and birth rates in the country.
The oldest population in the world
Japanese society is facing severe demographical problems such as decreasing birthrates, remaining under one million births annually in recent years, and a thereby aging population. The country’s average age lies at 48.4 years, making its population the oldest in the world. Elderly people aged 65 years and over accounted for about 28.4 percent of the population in 2019. It was forecasted that the age group 65 years and older would make up approximately 38 percent of the Japanese population by 2060.Due to financial concerns, an increasing share of Japanese at retirement age or older are actively involved in the country’s labor force throughout the past decade, most recently passing 13 percent. Extended work years are one of the factors that the Japanese elderly’s longevity can be attributed to, with others being diet and nutrition as well as active lifestyles such as participating in neighborhood activities and sports.
Challenges with the demographic shift
The rapid aging of the society poses significant economic and sociopolitical challenges to the country, as the workforce will continue to shrink while increasingly more elderly will receive long-term support. Currently, close to seven million Japanese require long-term care, leading to national benefit expenses of over ten trillion yen annually, including in-home and community-based services.Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, official data showed another decline in birth rates compared to the previous year and a steep decline of close to 40 percent in new marriages. The latter especially represents a considerable development, as the majority of Japanese babies are born in wedlock. Several economists predicted that Japan’s economy will not return to its pre-pandemic levels before 2024, pointing towards further problems regarding marriage and birth rates in the country.
