Falling birth rate: Japan sees a deepening demographic crisis: Let’s understand

The number of childbirths in Japan has fallen again, underscoring the deepening challenge of shouldering increasing social security costs for an aging population as the number of taxpayers reduces. This is a concerning situation for the country.

The number of infants in 2024 fell 5% from the year before to 720,988, extending a nine-year streak of declines, according to preliminary population data released by the health ministry on Thursday. Deaths rose 1.8% to a record-high 1.62 million for the same period.

The sustained decline in the number of births in Japan is intensely concerning. Japan’s public debt is expected to be 232.7% of GDP this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. The ongoing decline reflects younger generations’ reluctance to bear children.

Nonetheless, these figures represent a broadening global trend. The decline in births in France accelerated in 2023 to the fastest pace in half a century. China has been reporting a decline in population for three straight years. South Korea recently noted progress in the fertility rate.