Japan’s declining births on track to fall below 700,000 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
A baby (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The number of births of Japanese children in the first half of 2024 has continued its alarming downward trend, with only 329,998 babies born between January and June.
If this pace continues, the country’s annual birth count will fall below 700,000 for the first time since 1947, when comparative statistics became available.
On Nov. 5, the welfare ministry released preliminary population statistics, revealing a decrease of 22,242 births, a 6.3 percent drop, compared to the same period last year.
In 2023, births had already fallen by 14,992 from the previous year, a 4.1 percent decline, indicating the ongoing struggle to reverse Japan’s shrinking population.
Despite the series of measures the government has introduced over the years, there are no signs that these policies are proving effective in reversing the trend.
