Beginning next month, China will impose a value-added tax on condoms and other contraceptives, reversing a 33-year exemption. This policy change, part of a broader effort to boost the nation’s declining birth rate, will likely increase the cost of contraception. Experts express concern that this tax could limit access to contraception, particularly for young people, while also overlooking gender-equality concerns and potentially increasing STI rates. Simultaneously, the state is promoting marriage and childbearing, with matchmaking agencies newly added to the tax-exempt list, creating a shift in how the state approaches family, marriage, and reproduction.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed grave concern over Turkey’s declining birth rate, deeming it a potential “catastrophe.” He highlighted the fertility rate’s drop below replacement levels and the increasing elderly population. Erdogan linked this demographic shift to detrimental social changes and indicated measures against LGBT movements and gender neutrality. Experts suggest this decline is tied to factors like women’s increased education and career aspirations.
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In 2024, Japan witnessed a record high in births to foreign parents, with over 20,000 babies born, comprising more than 3% of all newborns, contrasting sharply with the declining birth rate among Japanese parents. This trend reflects the soaring non-Japanese population, driven by increased migrant workers filling labor market gaps. The rise in foreign-born children is impacting political discourse, as right-wing politicians call for stricter immigration rules, while experts emphasize the need for policies to support foreign families and ensure their integration into Japanese society. The justice minister anticipates the proportion of foreign residents could exceed 10% of the population by 2040, underscoring the evolving demographic landscape.
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Japan’s population experienced a significant decline in 2024, with almost a million more deaths than births, marking the steepest annual drop since 1968. Births reached a record low of 686,061, while the overall population decreased by 0.44%, primarily impacting the pension and healthcare systems. Despite government efforts to boost birth rates through various incentives and embracing foreign labor, deep-seated cultural and economic challenges, such as high living costs and stagnant wages, continue to hinder progress. With a rapidly aging population and a shrinking workforce, Japan faces a demographic crisis that will require long-term solutions.
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In a move to combat plummeting birth rates, Russia has formed a “demographic special forces unit,” according to the RBC business daily. Announced by Federation Council head Valentina Matviyenko, the group underscores the government’s focus on family issues. This initiative follows prior attempts to address Russia’s demographic challenges, including promotional campaigns and restrictions on abortion access. Despite these efforts, Russia has yet to see a reversal in its declining birth rate.
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According to new federal data, the U.S. fertility rate reached an all-time low in 2024, with less than 1.6 children per woman. This mirrors trends in Western European countries, with the rate being significantly lower than the replacement rate of 2.1 that was once common in the U.S. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to boost birth rates, such as expanding access to in vitro fertilization, experts argue that these measures fail to address crucial factors like parental leave and affordable childcare, and are largely symbolic. The new report also revealed a 1% increase in total births compared to the previous year, though revised data showed declines in birth rates for women in their 20s and early 30s.
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Japanese prefectural governors have urged the central government to prioritize measures addressing the escalating population decline. The National Governors’ Association proposed a national campaign, involving private companies, to promote comprehensive solutions. They also requested the establishment of a government agency to coordinate related policies, as well as policies to promote multicultural coexistence. Furthermore, the association emphasized the importance of creating an environment conducive to work and raising children, considering the perspectives of women and young people.
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Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Conservative Party of Japan, sparked outrage with his radical proposals to address the country’s declining birth rate. During a podcast, he suggested policies including banning women over 18 from attending college, prohibiting marriage for women over 25, and even removing the uteruses of women over 30. While Hyakuta claims these were purely hypothetical, his co-host and senior party member Kaori Arimoto found the uterus removal suggestion too extreme, even hypothetically. After facing significant backlash, Hyakuta issued a public apology but defended himself, accusing media of taking his comments out of context. This is not the first time Hyakuta has been criticized for divisive statements, previously denying the Nanjing Massacre and opposing the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act.
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The news headlines scream with alarming figures, “Japanese population falls by record 861,237”. It’s a stark reality that is hard to ignore. The falling birth rates, coupled with the aging population, paint a grim picture for the future of Japan. The birth rate now stands at a mere 1.30, while South Korea’s is even lower at 0.70. The trajectory indicates that South Korea’s population could shrink by half by the end of the century if this trend persists. As someone living in Japan with a Japanese wife, the idea of starting a family is a daunting prospect. It’s not about money or living situations, but rather the toxic work culture that pervades the country.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker