Japanese residents contracted by half a million last year, which confirms the challenges facing the country to address the lack of labor and financing its social security system through a shrinking tax base.
The total population decreased by 550,000 from the previous year to 123.8 million in 2024, which led to the extension of the decline chain to 14 years, according toDataAs of October 2024, it was issued on Monday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The number of Japanese citizens alone decreased by 898,000, which is the sharp decrease since similar records began in 1950.
The data works as another reminder of Japan’s dark demographic expectations, which raises warnings about the sustainability of its social welfare system, as the number of shareholders diminishes. The number of people between the ages of 15 and 64 – the essence of the workforce – from 224,000 to 73.7 million The debt ratio to gross domestic product Between advanced economies.
Data also shows that children in Japan decreased by 343,000 to 13.8 million, or a 11.2 % low record of the total. This decrease follows the personalities of the Ministry of Labor issued in February, which showed that births fell on aA new historical decreaseFears of the long -term future for local industries amid providing new workers.
The unemployment rate in Japan is 2.4 %, which is the lowest level among the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization, and it has remained less than 3 % for four years. By 2040, Japan is expected to face 11 million employment deficitappreciationBy the recruits Institute.
Partially compensated for the total shortage of the population, the foreign population has increased for the third year in a row, increasing by 342,000 from the previous year, the latest data show.
Japanese population problems reflect wider global patterns. South KoreaFertilityA slight mark was laid last year for the first time in nine years, but at only 0.75, it is still much lower than the replacement rate. In France, andBorn droppingIn 2023, he accelerated the fastest pace in half a century, while ChinaThe population decreasedFor three consecutive years.
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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