In 2022, Japan produced the lowest number of newborns – 770 747 – on record since the previous low of 2005.
The country’s fertility rate – the number of children born to an average women – is 1.265. A stable population requires a fertility rate of 2.07.
In the same year, Japan recorded 1.57 million deaths (about 47 000 resulting from the COVID pandemic).
Japan is experiencing an ageing and shrinking population, aggravated by a reluctance to accept immigration. A recent poll showed that the overwhelming majority of the country’s firms viewed the declining birth-rate as a strategic problem for them.
The costs of supporting the elderly are also rapidly growing.
To deal with this problem, the Japanese government has announced a 3.5 trillion yen programme to stimulate birth-rates and support Japanese families.
This would include monthly allowances of 15 000 yen (some $107) for every child up to the age of two. Afterwards, an allowance 10 000 yen for each child would be made available. Household income would not be used for access to the funds.
In addition, there are plans to expand childcare facilities and childcare benefits for parents.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrstopher/4709411224]