Sunday, August 6, 2023

Population Decline in Japan


According to a Japanese government report released last week, Japan's population dropped in all 47 prefectures for the first time last year, while the number of foreign residents hit a new high of almost three million people. 


The number of Japanese nationals fell about 800,000 people, or 0.65% to 122.4 million in 2022, from the previous year. According to data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, this is the 14th straight year for the decrease. The overall population of Japan was 125.41 million, down about half a million people from the previous year. The number of foreign residents with addresses registered in Japan went up by 10.7%. The foreign population increase was the largest year on year rise since these statistics started in 2013. Foreign residents are now about 2.4% of Japan's total population. 


Many people conclude the population will continue to decrease because of the declining birthrate in the country.  Last year was a record low, with only 771,801 births in Japan. 


Is the population increasing or decreasing in the country where you live?

3 comments:

Toki said...

The prefecture where I live is decreasing.
Prime Minister Kishida said that he would implement a declining birthrate policy of a different dimension.
But considering the policy content, I don't think it's a different dimension.

Queeniepatch said...

I don't know how these trends work, but when unemployment went up in Sweden in the 90s, there was a baby boom. It was a good source of income for young women to have kids! At the moment in Japan, every company is screaming for staff, there is such labour shortage no one HAS TO stay at home. Do we need a recession to get more kids?

Leonore Winterer said...

I think Germany is keeping a stable population, mostly thanks to refugees finding a home here. Has Japan becoming less strict about accepting foreigners into the country permanently?