Japan's population falls for a 15th year with record low births and record high deaths
Japan's population falls for a 15th year with record low births and record high deaths
Japan’s total population has declined for the 15th straight year. That's according to government data released Thursday.
Japan’s total population declined for the 15th straight year in 2023, dropping by more than a half-million people as the population ages and births remain low.
Births in Japan hit a record low of 730,000 last year. The 1.58 million deaths last year were also a record high. Japan’s population was 124.9 million as of Jan. 1.
The data released Wednesday by Japan’s Internal Affairs Ministry also showed that the 11% increase in foreign residents helped their population surpass 3 million for the first time. They now make up nearly 3% of the total population and are mostly of working age from 15 to 64.
Surveys show that younger Japanese are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living — which rises at a faster pace than salaries — and a gender-biased corporate culture that adds a burden only on women and working mothers.
Hey guys, I have an idea- how about letting in some immigrants?
What? Robots? Okay, have fun with that.
42Domo arigato Mr. Gaijin ❌
Domo arigato Mr. Roboto ✅
48I mean, I immigrated to Japan fairly easily. If you have a university degree and speak good English, there are visas to be had. IT as well. I do find I have a tougher time since I came over in my 30s, compared to the younger people coming here.
3
So many countries are seeing their birthrate fall and a future with a smaller population is looming. But why struggle and fight it? What is there to gain by cramming more people into the system?
Here's a thought: embrace the decline of population. Society definitely should because it will increase wages due to lower worker pool. The only people who are actually scared of lower population are the ones who view that population as expendable. Those same people who are scared of losing the meat shield between them and their wealth are the ones who steered us all into this mess anyway. There is no plan, no future, no continued hope for them to burn through endless resources at our expense.
Let the population fall. It's the easiest way to combat climate change.
27Problem is that you still have people aging and fewer young people working and contributing to the economy. You end up with a shrunken tax base to support the country.
24The problem is that the population is aging, there aren't enough young people to support an aging populace.
6That's why they have robots to help!
1
I think South Korea and Japan are pioneers and we should watch how they handle it before is our time
26If you’re referring to the US or most other Western countries, they have an advantage that Japan and South Korea don’t have.. immigration from a diverse set of countries. Best way to counterbalance declining birth rates.
18you're right, immigration prevents Europe and North America to become the South Korea of today, but birth rates are declining in Latin America, Africa, etc, so eventually will be a global issue (btw, the down vote you got didn't come from me)
9
Perhaps I'll go there and help them a little.
-2gross. Also, the reason people aren't having kids isn't due to a lack of people fucking, despite what some articles may say; it's entirely related to societal issues that need complex fixes. That said, three of my friends have had kids in the last couple years.
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