Japan's birth rate hits historic low in 2024

Japan's demographic crisis deepened in 2024, with births dropping to a record low of 720,988—a continuous decline for the ninth consecutive year, according to the health ministry (via Reuters).

This decline highlights the country's rapidly aging population and dwindling birth rate, despite a series of measures introduced by former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to encourage childbearing.

While Japan saw an uptick in marriages, which rose by 2.2%, it was still unable to reverse the broader trend of fewer children born. A sharp contrast with its neighbour, South Korea, where fertility rates saw a slight increase, Japan's fertility rate remained at 1.20 in 2023.

Experts point to factors such as fewer marriages, largely a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a strong connection between marriage rates and birth rates. For now, it remains to be seen if Japan can reverse this trend.