Japan Facing Silent Emergency as Birthrate Hits Historic Low

Japan’s demographic crisis has deepened as new government data confirms the country’s birthrate has fallen to a historic low. In 2024, only 686,061 babies were born in Japan, marking a 5.7% decline from the previous year and the first time since records began in 1899 that annual births have dropped below 700,000. This trend has now persisted for 16 consecutive years, accelerating faster than government projections and intensifying concerns about the nation’s future economic stability and social welfare systems.

The total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime—also reached a record low of 1.15 in 2024, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population without immigration. The decline is particularly pronounced in urban centers like Tokyo, where the fertility rate has fallen below one for the second year in a row. At the same time, Japan saw about 1.61 million deaths in 2024, resulting in a net population decline of approximately 919,000 people.

Experts point to a combination of factors driving the decline, including delayed or fewer marriages, economic insecurity, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced opportunities for young people to meet and start families. Social expectations and workplace pressures, especially in rural areas where traditional family values remain strong, make it difficult for many women to balance careers and parenting.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as a “silent emergency” and pledged to introduce more flexible work environments and policies to help families. However, despite government efforts and public debate, the number of births continues to fall, raising urgent questions about Japan’s long-term economic vitality, national security, and the sustainability of its social security system.