Japan witnessed a record low in newborn births for 8th consecutive year

In 2023, Japan witnessed a record low in newborn births for the eighth consecutive year, with only 758,631 babies born, alongside a decline in marriages, which fell below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years. The concerning trend show Japan's ongoing struggle with depopulation, prompting government officials to pledge "unprecedented steps" to address the declining birthrate. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has labeled the demographic situation as the country's "gravest crisis," emphasizing the urgency to reverse the trend before 2030, when the number of young people is projected to sharply decline. With estimates suggesting Japan's population could decrease by 30% to 87 million by 2070, and a significant portion of the population aging, Japan faces deep social, economic, and fiscal challenges ahead.