Japan's Population Declines at Record Pace

Japan's population, excluding foreigners, has decreased by a record 837,000 people in one year, or 0.69% annually, reaching 121.193 million, according to the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. When factoring in foreigners, the population has dropped by 595,000 (0.48%), now totaling 124.352 million, marking the 13th consecutive year of decline.

The number of residents aged 75 and older has increased by 713,000, surpassing 20 million for the first time and reaching 20.08 million, while the population of individuals aged 0-14 has declined by 329,000, now approximately at 14.17 million.

The proportion of elderly people in Japan has also reached a record high of 16.1%, while the share of children under 15 has fallen to a historical low of 11.4%.

Among Japan's 47 prefectures, only one—Tokyo—has recorded a population increase, marking the second consecutive year of growth in the capital.