Japan has reached a new demographic milestone, with more than 100,000 people now aged 100 or older, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
The number of centenarians has risen to 107,677, marking the first time the figure has exceeded 100,000. Women account for around 88% of the total.
“We are pleased that many people are living longer and remaining active thanks to advances in medical technology,” Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno told reporters.
Women make up the vast majority
Japan’s gender gap in longevity is reflected clearly among its oldest citizens. Women have an average life expectancy of around 87 years, compared with approximately 81 years for men.
The number of centenarians has increased dramatically over the past several decades. When the Health Ministry began tracking the figure in 1963, Japan had just 153 people aged 100 or older. By 1988, the number had already surpassed 10,000.
The latest figures underline Japan’s position as one of the world’s oldest societies, but the country is simultaneously facing a very different demographic trend: its overall population is shrinking.
Japan’s population continues to decline
At the beginning of this year, Japan’s population fell below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, reaching approximately 119.7 million.
The country lost around 917,000 residents in just one year. The main factors are persistently low birth rates and relatively limited immigration compared with other major economies.
The combination of a shrinking population and a growing proportion of elderly people is placing increasing pressure on Japan’s social security system. The cost of supporting an ageing population continues to rise year after year.
Japan’s record number of centenarians therefore illustrates both sides of the country’s demographic transformation: people are living longer, while fewer children are being born to replace them.
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