Will Japan Become a Country Full Of Aged People by 2045?

Why Japan is experiencing a steep population drop

There is another Japan behind their technological advancement and high-pace lifestyle where the cities and towns are dying. They are dying because there are not enough people and the young ones are moving to big cities for new opportunities. Due to the low birth rate, depopulation and aging, smaller towns and cities are left for only a handful of aged people.

Experts predict that by the 2040s, rural depopulation in Japan will outpace that in every country except Bulgaria and Albania. And hundreds of small cities and towns will be completely deserted over time.

But why is Japan’s population declining at such a high speed? Let’s explore the reasons right away.

High Life Expectancy

If you are born in Japan, you can expect that you will live at least eighty-five years. Yes, Japan is one of the countries that have the highest life expectancy.

Many factors are responsible for Japanese people’s high life span, including improved nutrition, advanced medical technologies, better lifestyle and living conditions, etc. Japan has significantly low mortality rates from heart disease and cancer as well.

In 2016, Japanese people’s life expectancy was 85 years; 81.7 for males and 88.5 for females. The life spans significantly improved after World War II when the country rebuilds itself with peace and prosperity.

Low Fertility Rate

Unlike other countries, Japan’s population is declining every year due to its low fertility rate.

As of October 2019, Japan has a population of 126,167,000, which is a 0.22% decrease compared to the previous year. And it is the ninth consecutive annual decline and the largest margin of decrease on record, according to the data by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.

It is to mention that in 2005, Japan’s total fertility rate(TFR) reached a historic low of 1.26.

For population growth, Japan needs a total fertility rate of 2.1. But as of 2016, the TFR was 1.41 children born/woman.

But why are Japanese people reluctant to have children? According to a 2013 survey, one-third of Japanese people think marriage and having children is utterly pointless. They love to remain single as they can spend their money on their hobbies and interest and feel free.

Cultural Change, Singlehood, and Love Hotels

Another reason for depopulation is cultural change. Previously people get married in their mid to late 20s. But the current generation doesn’t want to get married until they get settled in their careers.

So now they tend to get married in their thirties and have children in their late 30s. Japanese women also become more career-centric than ever and seem reluctant to get married, unlike the previous generation.

Moreover, more and more people like to remain single and don’t show interest in human contact. Japan Family Planning Association discovered that 45% of women from 16 to 24 are not interested in or despise any sexual contact.

In Japan, young people are now getting married to even holograms and virtual characters. And those who feel the need for physical pleasure often go to the love hotels.

This cultural change is ultimately resulting in a low birth rate and contributing to population decline.

Barriers to Immigrants

Japan was never an immigrant-friendly country. It hardly welcomes foreign workers into its territory for a longer time. And for centuries, it has maintained a strong sense of national identity by aggressively limiting outside influences.

In late 2018, the Japanese government reformed and revised its immigration law to attract new foreign workers and deal with labor shortages in key sectors and tackle the demographic challenges.

Although Japan is trying to open its job markets for immigrants, it is hard for them to adapt to the Japanese culture. Because it is tough to master the Japanese code of conduct and the Japanese language for any immigrants.

Moreover, Japanese people are very reserved, shy, and introverted in nature.

To Conclude

If the population decline continues and the future of Japan is very bleak. According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Japan’s population is projected to fall around a third to 87 million in 2060.

Almost a quarter of Japanese households will be headed by those aged 75 or older in 2040, with many of them living alone, a government estimate shows.

Japan is worried about this continuous decline in population as it will hit hard on its economy. The government is trying hard to encourage people to have children, giving people easier access to childcare and tax incentives to grow its population.

Thank you for reading.

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