Japan’s demographic challenge deepens, with a recent government announcement revealing that more than 10% of its population is now 80 or older. More data, presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the Day of Respect for the Elderly, highlighted that 29.1% of its citizens are 65 years or older, a world record.
In addition to these aging statistics, there is a continuously declining birth rate, with the country’s fertility rate at an alarming 1.3. This is significantly below the rate of 2.1 needed to maintain population stability without immigration. As a result, Japan has witnessed deaths exceeding births for more than ten years, presenting significant challenges for the world’s third-largest economy.
One good aspect of this situation is Japan’s commendable life expectancy, one of the highest in the world, which, however, also amplifies the size of the elderly population.
Facing the intensifying labor crisis and striving to revitalize its economy, the government has pushed for older people and housewives to re-engage with the labor market. Their efforts seem to be paying off, with a remarkable 9.12 million seniors employed, marking 19 consecutive years of growth. The current workforce is made up of more than 13% of people aged 65 and over, a remarkable statistic highlighted by the Home Office.
Despite these measures, Japan still grapples with the broader implications of its demographic conundrum. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the urgent need for immediate action and highlighted the importance of child-rearing support.
Meanwhile, nearby nations such as China, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan face similar demographic difficulties, grappling with the challenges of motivating the younger generation to expand their families amid rising living costs and social concerns
This article is sourced from and written by AI.
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