Japan Sets New Record as Centenarians Surpass 1 Lac

Japan, one of the world’s oldest-population countries, has set a new record as the number of people aged 100 or above has surpassed 100,000. According to recent data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of centenarians in the country has reached 107,677 this year. This marks the 56th consecutive year of increase and is about 7,914 more than last year. The report shows that nearly 88 percent of these centenarians are women.

Advances in medical science, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle have helped increase life expectancy in Japan. The country’s traditional diet, which includes plenty of fish, vegetables and low-fat foods, along with its universal health insurance system, has played a major role in helping people live longer. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno expressed satisfaction and praised the elderly for their healthy and long lives.

However, behind the celebration of longer life expectancy lies a deep social and economic crisis. While the number of elderly people is reaching record levels, Japan’s birth rate has fallen to a worrying low. Last year, the number of people aged 95 or above was more than 800,000, while only 700,000 babies were born. As a result, the cost of healthcare and pensions for the elderly is rising, while the population of taxpayers and workers is rapidly declining.

Around 30 percent of Japan’s total population is now aged 65 or above. This figure is expected to reach around 40 percent by 2070. Japan’s population reached 128 million in 2008, but it could fall to 87 million by 2070.

The Japanese government has introduced child allowances and subsidised childcare services to encourage couples to have children. However, these measures have yet to increase the birth rate significantly. Housing shortages, job insecurity and long working hours are discouraging young people from getting married and having children. As a result, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has identified the declining birth rate as a major national crisis.

As improved healthcare around the world allows people to live longer, countries such as Japan are now facing major economic and social structural challenges because of persistently low birth rates.