Number of people aged 100 and over in Japan surpasses 100,000 for the first time
In Japan, the number of residents aged 100 and over has exceeded 100,000 for the first time, reaching 107,677 people. This is 7,914 more than last year, and women account for nearly 88% of these people, Asharq Al-Awsat reports, citing statistics from the country's Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The country’s oldest residents
The oldest woman in Japan has been recognized as 114-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto from Kyoto. The oldest man is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from the city of Kumamoto in the south of the country.
The statistics were released ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, which fell on September 15. On this occasion, authorities honor healthy and active people aged 100 and over with a letter from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno linked the increase in life expectancy to advances in medical technology, a healthy lifestyle, and diet. At the same time, he stressed the need to maintain a sustainable social security system amid an aging and shrinking population.
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Population decline
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, more than 20% of unmarried men and women aged 18 to 34 do not intend to ever marry. Nearly half of respondents said they see no benefits in marriage.
Ueno noted that young people's decisions are influenced by the high costs of raising and educating children, as well as the psychological and physical burden on working parents. According to him, the government will continue to address these issues.
Japan's total fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14 children per woman in 2025. During the 2020 census, the country's population was 126 million, with around 30% aged 65 and over. According to the institute's estimate, the population will decline to 87 million by 2070, while the share of people aged 65 and over will approach 40%.
Japan has kept records of people aged 100 and over since 1963, when there were 153 such people. The country surpassed 1,000 people in 1981 and 10,000 in 1998.
