Japan’s population fell again in 2022, to 124.9 million

Tokyo, Apr 12 (EFE).- The population of Japan decreased in 2022 by 556,000 people and stood at 124.9 million, the 12th consecutive year of decline, underlining the demographic challenge facing the country.

This is shown in data published Wednesday by the Japanese Executive, which show that last year the number of Japanese citizens fell by 750,000 people, to 122.03 million, the largest decrease since comparable data began to be compiled in 1950.

This setback was partly offset by the increase in foreign citizens residing in Japan, according to official data.

All Japanese prefectures registered a population decline, with the sole exception of the capital, Tokyo.

The national population of working age (between 15 and 64) decreased by 296,000 people to 74.2 million, 59.4 percent of the total.

Those under 14 years of age accounted for 11.6 percent of the total population, while those over 65 amounted to 29 percent. In both cases these are record percentages.

This data once again highlights the need for measures to stop the accelerated demographic aging and the drop in the birth rate, after in 2022 the number of newborns in the country fell by 5.1 percent below 800,000, a new all-time low.

The government launched this month a new agency to coordinate policies to support births and raise children, with the aim of “leading the creation of a society favorable to children and their care,” according to Japanese Prime MinisterFumio Kishida.

Kishida has said he promises to double the budget aimed at supporting the birth rate and raising children, among other measures focused mainly on the economic section and which, according to some experts, are insufficient to address the serious and complex Japanese demographic problem. EFE

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