Japan’s fertility rate has dropped again to a new record low, highlighting the deepening demographic strain facing Japan, official data released on Wednesday shows.
The total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have — fell to 1.14, down 0.01 from the previous year. It marks the 10th consecutive annual decline, underscoring a long-running population downturn.
The number of babies born also fell by nearly 15,000 to just over 670,000, the lowest level since records began in 1899. Preliminary figures released earlier had suggested higher births, but those included non-Japanese babies born in the country and Japanese citizens born abroad.
The accelerating decline is outpacing earlier forecasts. Japan’s National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had projected that annual births would not fall below 680,000 until 2040, according to NHK reporting.
The country’s shrinking population is already feeding into labour shortages, rising social security costs, and a shrinking tax base. A census conducted last month showed Japan’s population fell by a record 2.5% over five years.
While immigration is often discussed as a potential solution, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has advocated tighter controls on foreign inflows.
Authorities have introduced a range of measures in recent years aimed at encouraging marriage and childbirth, including expanded childcare support, increased parental leave subsidies, and even dating initiatives — but with limited impact so far.
