Why is Japan’s population decreasing?

The population of Japan has been decreasing since 2008. This is the result of declining birth rates.

Why is Japan’s birth rate so low?

Why does Japan’s population keep decreasing and what are the reason for Japan’s low birth rate?

Factors causing the decline in Japan’s birth rate since the 1980s are as follows:

• More people remaining single (unmarried)
• Late marriage
• Late childbearing

Another factor is the declining birthrate among married women. In the 1980s, the rate of unmarried women in their 30s and older began to rise. Together with late marriages, the rate of single people also increased.

Because the majority of children in Japan are born after a man and a woman marry, an increase in the proportion of those who do not marry will affect the number of childbirths.

With the increase in the percentage of unmarried people in their 20s and 30s, the average age of first marriage is rising for both men and women, leading to a trend toward late marriage. Given that late marriage raises the age at which children are born, the fertility rate tends to decline throughout a marriage.

Age-specific fertility rates show that in 1950 and 1970, the peak was in the mid-20s. However, the peak has gradually shifted, and the fertility rate declined as the age of childbearing increased. This indicated a simultaneous decline in the fertility rate and a trend toward late childbearing. In addition, since the 1980s, the trend toward late marriages and late childbearing has led to a significant decline in the birth rate in the 20s and an increase in the birth rate in the 30s, with the peak of the birth rate shifting to later years.

The lifetime never-married rate (i.e., the percentage of people who are not married at age 50) has also been rising in recent years: In 1980, it was 2.6% for men and 4.5% for women, but in 2022, it was 23.4% for men and 14.1% for women.

Furthermore, amid chronic deflation, the percentage of unmarried is high among men with low incomes and unstable employment.

The unmarried rate is high among women working in non-regular employment or in workplaces where childcare leave is not available.

Because one’s economic foundation, employment and career prospects, and stability affect marriage, the increase in the number of low-wage, non-regular employees due to deflation might be accelerating the high unmarried rate.

More males are giving “Insufficient funds for marriage” as a reason for their inability to marry, indicating that the economic situation of young men is affecting their marriages.

Women’s participation in society (women’s empowerment) and diversification of values

While the Equal Employment Opportunity Law was enacted in 1985 and women’s advancement in society has been progressing, the lack of adequate child-rearing support systems and other difficulties in balancing work and child-rearing, as well as the large income loss (opportunity cost) that occurs when one leaves work to raise children, might have influenced women’s choice to have children.

In addition, the increasing variety of pleasures and the convenience of single life, as well as changing values toward marriage and family, might contribute to the trend toward singlehood and late marriages.

According to an international survey of attitudes toward declining fertility, when asked “Do you think your country is a good place to have and raise children?” 32% of respondents in the U.S. and 83% in Sweden answered “agree,” while in Japan, more than 40% answered “disagree” – a considerably high percentage from an international perspective.

Is the Japanese government doing anything to increase the population?

The reasons why Japan’s population is decreasing and the birth rate is so low are quite clear. The government is aware of the problem of decrease in  population and the extremely low birth rate of Japan and is trying to improve the situation, however, the problem may be insurmountable.

Some interesting stories related to Japan’s decreasing population

1. “Solo weddings”: With Japan’s declining population, more and more people are staying single. In response, companies have started offering “solo wedding” packages, where people can have a full wedding experience, complete with a wedding dress or suit, a photo shoot, and even a fake partner, without having to actually get married.
2. Robot caregivers: With a rapidly aging population and a shortage of caregivers, Japan has turned to robotics to help care for its elderly. There are now robot caregivers that can help with everything from bathing and dressing to reminding patients to take their medication.
3. Ghost towns: As more and more people move away from rural areas in search of jobs and better opportunities, some towns in Japan are being abandoned. These “ghost towns” are a stark reminder of Japan’s declining population and the challenges that come with it.
4. The 100-year life: With advances in healthcare and technology, it’s becoming increasingly common for people in Japan to live to 100 years or older. This is putting a strain on the country’s social security system, as it was not designed to support such long lifespans.
5. Immigration debates: With a shrinking workforce and a declining population, some in Japan are calling for increased immigration to help fill the gap. However, there is significant resistance to this idea, as many Japanese people view their country as homogenous and are wary of cultural differences.