Japan is facing a new demographic challenge as the number of 18-year-olds in the country has reached a record low. According to a government estimate, there are only 1.06 million 18-year-olds in Japan, accounting for 0.86 percent of the total population. This is a significant drop of 60,000 from the previous year, highlighting the country’s ongoing struggle with a falling birthrate.
The declining number of new adults is directly linked to Japan’s plummeting fertility rate. In both 2005 and 2022, the country’s total fertility rate hit a record low of 1.26. This means that on average, a woman in Japan is estimated to bear only 1.26 children in her lifetime. The combination of a low fertility rate and a decreasing number of incoming adults is posing a serious demographic challenge for Japan’s future.
In response to this demographic crisis, Japan made a significant policy change in April 2022 by lowering the age of adulthood from 20 to 18. The hope was that by allowing young people to participate more actively in society at an earlier age, it would help address some of the challenges posed by the shrinking population. Despite this change, the number of new adults continues to decline, posing a challenge to the effectiveness of this policy shift.
Historically, Japan has seen fluctuations in the number of new adults. In 1970, the country experienced a record-high of 2.46 million new adults. However, this number has been on a downward trend since then. Even during a brief resurgence in the early 1990s when the number of new adults surpassed 2 million, the trend continued to decline. This latest record low of 1.06 million new adults highlights a concerning pattern for the country’s demographic future.
It is important to note that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ data includes foreign residents who have been living in the country for over three months. This means that the total number of 18-year-olds in Japan is inclusive of both Japanese citizens and foreign residents, giving a comprehensive picture of the demographic landscape.
As Japan grapples with this new demographic reality, it raises important questions about the country’s future. How will Japan address the challenges posed by a shrinking population, particularly in terms of its impact on the workforce, economy, and social welfare systems? These are important considerations that policymakers and leaders will need to address as Japan looks to navigate the complexities of a changing demographic landscape.
In conclusion, the record-low number of 18-year-olds in Japan is a stark reminder of the country’s ongoing struggle with a falling birthrate and its broader demographic challenges. As the number continues to decline, it will be crucial for Japan to develop innovative and sustainable strategies to address the broader implications of a shrinking population on its society and economy. The data released by the government serves as a call to action for policymakers and leaders to prioritize these pressing demographic issues.
