Japan's Population Status
Japan’s population declined by 19,000 in 2005 according to the government census, marking the first time it has shrunk since 1899, when it began keeping records. The decline is caused by the low birth rate of 1.29 children per woman. The declining birth rate has been a concern for the island nation for the last few decades as it supports a larger elderly population; 20% of Japans population is 65 or older. As of October 1, the population was recorded at 127,757,000.
Deaths are expected to exceed births by 10,000, and inward migration will not make up the difference. The drop, which has been predicted for years, was blamed on a falling birth rate and a rise in flu-related deaths. The government has acknowledged a shrinking population could jeopardise Japan's long-term economic health. "Our country is now standing at a major turning point in terms of population," Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki told a news conference.
"We must take counter-measures against the falling birth rate along with measures to support and foster our future generations," he said. The latest data showed the number of births - falling since the 1970s - was expected to fall by 44,000 to 1,067,000 in 2005. The number of deaths rose 48,000 to 1,077,000 as Japan's ageing population fell prone to illnesses like flu. Japan's population research institute said that even when foreign migrants were taken into account, the country's population would still fall by 4,000 in 2005.
Deaths are expected to exceed births by 10,000, and inward migration will not make up the difference. The drop, which has been predicted for years, was blamed on a falling birth rate and a rise in flu-related deaths. The government has acknowledged a shrinking population could jeopardise Japan's long-term economic health. "Our country is now standing at a major turning point in terms of population," Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki told a news conference.
"We must take counter-measures against the falling birth rate along with measures to support and foster our future generations," he said. The latest data showed the number of births - falling since the 1970s - was expected to fall by 44,000 to 1,067,000 in 2005. The number of deaths rose 48,000 to 1,077,000 as Japan's ageing population fell prone to illnesses like flu. Japan's population research institute said that even when foreign migrants were taken into account, the country's population would still fall by 4,000 in 2005.
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