Japanese population is estimated to have had fewer than 800,000 births last year, with japan having the world’s second-highest proportion of people aged 65 and over – about 28%. japan’s prime minister said it was a case of “now or never” as japan stands on the verge of whether it can continue to function as a society. as a result, japan is implementing strict immigration laws despite some relaxations, as well as wanting to double its spending on child-related programs and setting up a new government agency to focus on the issue in april.
Falling birth rates in japan have been occurring since the 1970s, when there were more than two million births. last week, china reported its first drop in population for 60 years, and birth rates are slowing in many countries, including japan’s neighbours. in 2020, researchers projected japan’s population to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017 to less than 53 million by the end of the century.
Falling birth rates in japan are driven by a range of factors, including rising living costs, more women in education and work, as well as greater access to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children. life expectancy has risen in recent decades, meaning there are a growing number of older people, and a declining numbers of workers to support them. as a result, some experts are now saying that the rules should be loosened further to help tackle its ageing society.
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