Japan recorded its steepest population drop in 2024 since official data collection began in 1968, with nearly one million more deaths than births, a stark reflection of the country’s deepening demographic crisis.
According to new figures released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of Japanese citizens shrank by 908,574 over the year.
Only 686,061 births were registered—the lowest since 1899—while close to 1.6 million people passed away. That means for every newborn, more than two people died.
This marks the 16th consecutive year of population decline in the country, putting immense pressure on its already strained pension and healthcare systems.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba referred to the nation’s demographic shift as a “quiet emergency,” vowing to implement more family-centric policies, including free childcare and flexible work schedules.
Despite these pledges, longstanding efforts to boost the birth rate have yielded minimal results. Cultural norms and economic challenges continue to discourage many young people from having children.
High living costs, stagnant wages, and Japan’s famously demanding work environment are major deterrents, especially for women, who are still largely expected to shoulder the burden of caregiving.
The government has experimented with a variety of incentives, from housing assistance to generous parental leave schemes, but the country’s fertility rate has remained low since the 1970s.
Experts caution that even if the birth rate improves now, it would take decades to reverse the trend.
Meanwhile, Japan’s overall population stood at roughly 124.3 million at the start of 2025, a 0.44% decline from the previous year.
Elderly citizens aged 65 and above now account for nearly 30% of the population, the second-highest percentage globally after Monaco. The working-age group (15 to 64) has dwindled to about 60%.
In stark contrast, Japan’s foreign resident population reached a new high of 3.6 million, now making up nearly 3% of the total population.
While the country has cautiously opened up to foreign workers through initiatives like a digital nomad visa and skill development programs, immigration remains a sensitive political topic in Japan’s conservative society.
The population crisis is visibly reshaping the country. With an increasing number of rural towns and villages losing residents, nearly four million homes have been abandoned in the past 20 years, according to government statistics.
As Japan grapples with its aging society and shrinking workforce, policymakers are under growing pressure to find sustainable solutions to secure the nation’s future.