Japanese Government: The number of new born babies in Japan may hit a new low this year, facing a population crisis
Foreign Network, November 28. According to news from Japan’s NHK TV station on the 28th, the Japanese government said that the number of newborns in Japan this year may be the lowest since statistics have been available, and this is the first time lower than 800,000. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroichi Matsuno, said that Japan is facing a population crisis and will promote comprehensive policies related to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing as soon as possible.
According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, from January to September this year, the number of newborns (including foreigners) born in Japan was about 599,000, 30,000 less than in 2021. And 2021 is already was a year with the lowest number of new-born babies in Japan since statistics were available. It is estimated that the number of newborns in Japan will reach a new low throughout this year. Matsuno Hiroichi said in a press conference held on the morning of the 28th that this situation has formed a “crisis” and that there are many reasons behind it. Hiroichi Matsuno said that the Japanese government will improve the social environment and introduce support policies for marriage and childbirth, so that men and women can balance work and raising children smoothly.
The number of newborn babies in Japan has shown a continuous downward trend since the late 1970s. In the 1990s, the number of newborn babies per year remained around 1.2 million. By 2016, the number of newborn babies fell below 1 million for the first time. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of marriage registrations in Japan has continued to decline since 2000. In 2021, only 501,000 couples in Japan will register for marriage, a decrease of more than 20,000 the previous year, the lowest since 1945. (Wang Shanning Abroad)
[Golygydd cyfrifol: Liu Yang]
