Japan's birth rate fell for ninth consecutive year in 2024 to hit record low
Tokyo, Feb 27 (AP): The number of babies born in Japan last year fell for a ninth straight year to a record low, according to health ministry data released Thursday.
The faster-than-predicted decline suggests government measures have not effectively addressed the country's fast-aging and declining population.
The 720,998 babies born in Japan in 2024 was a drop of 5 per cent on the previous year, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. It was the lowest number of births since Japan started taking the statistics in 1899.
“We believe the declining births has not been effectively controlled,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, adding the government will steadily pursue expanded childcare programmes and subsidies for childrearing households, while promoting salary increase and support for matchmaking effort.
The result, which includes babies of foreign nationality born in Japan, is 15 years ahead of the forecast for reaching that level. The birth rate for just Japanese nationals is expected to fall below 700,000 for the first time when it is published later this year.
The result comes just as South Korea reported that the number of babies born in that country rebounded for the first time in nine years in 2024, a result partly attributed to an increase in marriages among couples who delayed weddings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Japanese survey Thursday also noted that the number of marriages last year was 499,999, an increase of 2.2 per cent on 2023 when a 90-year low was recorded.
Experts say improving outlook for the economy, jobs and gender equality is key to encourage young people to marry and have children.
Surveys show that many younger Japanese are reluctant to marry or have families, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living that rises at a faster pace than salaries and corporate cultures that are not compatible with having both parents work.
Japan's population is projected to fall by about 30 per cent, to 87 million by 2070, when four out of every 10 people will be 65 or older.
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Only escort, pilot vehicles for CM's car; people should not be blocked: Satheesan
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): One of the first decisions taken by Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan after being picked for the post was to limit his convoy to three vehicles, in contrast to his predecessor’s large motorcade that had drawn criticism from various quarters.
According to party sources, Satheesan has directed that only a pilot and escort vehicle should accompany his official car and people on the road should not be blocked while he travels.
His decision is a major shift from the VIP culture of ministers as well as the huge motorcade of more than 10 vehicles that was seen when Pinarayi Vijayan used to travel.
Even former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy also did not have a huge motorcade like that of Vijayan.
