Japan Loses 1 Million People: What Explains Largest Population Decline in Over 50 Years

Last year, an excess of almost one million deaths over the number of births caused Japan to experience its largest population decline since the beginning of the historical series, which began in 1968.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described his country's demographic crisis, with an aging population and low birth rates, as a "silent emergency."

He also promised family-friendly policies like free daycare and more flexible work schedules.

However, efforts to reverse the decline in birth rates among Japanese women have had little impact so far.

New data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on August 6 shows that the number of Japanese citizens fell by 908,574 in 2024.

Japan had 686,061 births, the lowest number since the beginning of the historical series in 1899, while around 1.6 million deaths were recorded.

This means that for every baby born, more than two people died.

This difference marks the sixteenth consecutive year of population decline, which puts pressure on the country's pension and health systems.

The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record 3.6 million on January 1, 2025.

Today, immigrants represent almost 3% of the country's population.

The government has tentatively welcomed foreign workers, launching a digital nomad visa and training initiatives, but immigration remains a controversial topic in this largely conservative country.

The total population of Japan is currently 124.3 million.

People over 65 now represent nearly 30 percent of the population, the second-highest proportion in the world after Monaco, according to the World Bank.

The working-age population, defined as those aged 15 to 64, has declined to approximately 60% of the total population.

A growing number of towns and villages are emptying, with nearly four million homes abandoned in the past two decades, according to government data released last year.

The government has been trying for years to increase birth rates with incentives ranging from housing subsidies to paid parental leave.

However, deeply rooted cultural and economic barriers persist and hinder these initiatives.

The high cost of living, stagnant wages, and a rigid work culture discourage many young people from starting a family.

Women, in particular, face entrenched gender issues that often leave them with limited support in their caregiving roles.

Japan's fertility rate—the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime—has been considered low since the 1970s.