Japan faces a deepening population crisis that could reshape its future economy and society.
The number of babies born in Japan fell for the 10th straight year in 2025, according to preliminary statistics from the country’s health ministry.
In another grim milestone, births dipped below the 710,000 mark 17 years earlier than anticipated, despite heavy government investments in measures to temper the country’s demographic decline.
Why It Matters
Births are falling in many high— and middle-income countries, with an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population living in regions where the total fertility rate is below the 2.1 births per woman needed to replace the population.
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The trend is particularly advanced in East Asia and, coupled with rapidly aging populations, threatens the long-term vitality of some of the world’s largest economies. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called the demographic trajectory of the nation its „biggest problem.”
Newsweek has reached out to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare by email for comment.
What To Know
Just 705,809 babies were born in Japan last year, including to foreign residents, marking a 2.1 percent decline from 2024, when births had already dropped by 5 percent, according to the new report, released by the health ministry Thursday.
It was the lowest figure since record-keeping began in 1899, despite a bevy of central and local government measures aimed at encouraging child-rearing. Japan’s National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected in 2023 that births would not fall below 710,000 until 2042.
In a rare bright spot, the number of marriages rose for the second consecutive year to 505,656, a 1.13 percent increase, while divorces fell 3.68 percent to 182,969. Births in Japan are closely correlated with marriage trends.
The country also recorded a slight decline in deaths for the first time in five years, totaling 1,303,000, though its super-aged society continues to expand, with roughly 30 percent of the population aged 65 or older.
What People Are Saying
Kenichiro Ueno, Japan’s health minister, said during a regular press briefing on February 27: „The number of marriages has increased for the second consecutive year. Since marriage numbers and birth numbers are believed to have a certain relationship, this could be seen as a positive trend, but we will continue to keep a close eye on developments.
„As a government, we are working to implement the accelerated plan under the Children and Families Agency’s Child Future Strategy. ”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether government efforts can meaningfully slow the demographic decline. Frequently cited challenges include rising living costs, an intense work culture, and the disproportionate burden of child-rearing that often falls on mothers.
Takaichi has established a new task force dedicated to countermeasures, and Ueno told reporters the government intends to raise incomes among younger generations and provide greater support for dual-earner households raising children.
Another factor speculated to affect prospective parents this year is the Chinese zodiac, as 2026 is a fire horse year—traditionally considered inauspicious for marriage and childbirth. The last fire horse, 1966, saw a notable decline in births, though it’s unclear whether this belief holds the same sway among younger Japanese today.
Task:
Read the text and answer the following questions:
1. How has the number of babies born in Japan changed in recent years?
2. How many babies were born in Japan last year?
3. Why are experts worried about the falling number of births?
4. What positive change happened in Japan recently?
5. What are the main reasons people in Japan may have fewer children?
6. What is the government planning to do about the problem?
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