Tokyo, May 5: Japan’s declining child population has become a significant concern. According to a report released by local media, as of April 1, the number of children in Japan has fallen to an estimated 13.29 million. This marks a decrease of 350,000 compared to last year and represents the lowest figure on record. The decline has persisted for 45 consecutive years.
Data from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reveals that the proportion of children under 15 years old has decreased by 0.3 percent, now accounting for only 10.8 percent of the total population, the lowest since 1950. These figures are derived from estimated population data based on the census conducted every five years, which includes foreign residents.
Despite various measures taken by the Japanese government to support families raising children, such as increasing financial assistance, the population decline continues unabated. The government has declared the period leading up to 2030 as the “last chance to change the trend” in response to the falling birth rate.
According to the statistics, there are 6.81 million boys and 6.48 million girls among the children. The number of children aged 12 to 14 is 3.09 million, while those aged 0 to 2 years total 2.13 million. This indicates a persistent decline in new births.
Preliminary data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that in 2025, a total of 705,809 children were born, marking the lowest record to date and reflecting a decline for the tenth consecutive year.
Japan’s child population peaked in 1954 at 29.89 million, after which a steady decline began in 1982. It has been reported that the ratio of children in the total population has been decreasing for the 52nd consecutive year since 1975.
In February, the ministry also indicated that the number of births in 2025 had dropped to 705,809, the lowest figure since 1899. This decline represents a 2.1 percent decrease, equivalent to 15,179 fewer births. Japan is currently grappling with an aging population and rising inflation, making child-rearing increasingly expensive and challenging.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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