TOKYO, July 24, 2024—Japan’s population is shrinking and aging much faster than the government had forecast, decreasing by a record single year-to-year margin of 0.7 percent or 861,000 as of January 2024 to 121.561 million in the 15th consecutive year of decline, the Japanese government reported July 24.
The non-Japanese resident population totaled 3.323 million, a record high, rising 11.01% or 329,500 from a year ago.
The aggregate population was down 0.42%, a record margin of decrease, or 531,000 to 124.88 million.
The number of Japanese deceased hit a record high of 1.579 million while newborns totaled 853,000, decreasing for the 16 straight year.
The latest data has underscored that Japan’s population shrinking is progressing much faster than the government long-term forecast of 87 million in 2070 with people over 65 years old accounting for 38.7%. The population aging is progressing much faster than that forecast as many provinces’ ratios already are over 40%.
By region, Tokyo’s population grew by more than 0.5% to13.911 million as its surrounding provinces (excluding Chiba) also registered marginal decreases, together with other major cities including the greater Nagoya area, Osaka and Fukuoka. All other provinces, except Okinawa, suffered much sharper, visible decreases, with Akita in northern Japan registering 1.74% drop on year.
The population contraction is straining tax revenues, threatening the pension, healthcare and social welfare, and causing increasingly serious labor shortages. The government has been taking all conceivable policies over the past four decades but nothing has helped buck the shrinkage.
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