Tokyo – Japan’s population crisis deepened in 2024, with the number of births falling below 700,000 for the first time in recorded history. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, just 686,061 children were born last year — a steep decline of over 40,000 from the previous year.
The country’s total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime — also hit a new record low of 1.15, down 0.05 points from 2023. This marks the ninth consecutive year of decline, underscoring the urgency of Japan’s demographic challenge.
Among all prefectures, Tokyo recorded the lowest fertility rate at 0.96, remaining under 1.0 for the second straight year.
While births continue to plummet, the number of deaths rose to an all-time high of 1,605,298 in 2024, an increase of roughly 30,000 compared to the previous year.
As a result, the natural population decrease — calculated by subtracting births from deaths — reached 919,237, the largest decline ever recorded in Japan, further accelerating the nation’s population shrinkage.
A spokesperson from the Ministry commented:
“There’s no sign that the rapid decline in the birthrate is slowing. The situation remains critical.”
Amid this demographic downturn, there was at least one positive development: the number of marriages increased for the first time in two years. In 2024, 485,063 couples tied the knot, up about 10,000 from the previous year.