Japan’s Birth Rate Plunges: A Societal Crisis or a Necessary Correction?
Japan’s 2024 birthrate plummeted to a record low of 686,061, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1899, resulting in a record-low fertility rate of 1.15. This represents a 5.7% decrease from the previous year and falls significantly short of the 2.1 rate needed for population stability. The decline, occurring despite a slight rise in marriages, underscores the urgency of the nation’s demographic crisis, with projections showing a drastic population decrease by 2070. Government initiatives to incentivize childbirth have thus far proven insufficient to counteract the trend.
John Q. Hosedrinker