Japan experiences a significant population decline in 2024
Japan Faces Record Population Decline Amid Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiments
Japan is grappling with a record-breaking population decline, marking the 16th consecutive year of shrinkage since 1968. The country's population has been steadily dwindling due to persistently low fertility rates and an aging society, exacerbated by economic and social pressures.
The root cause of Japan's declining population lies in long-term low birth rates and an aging society. The large baby-boom generation is entering retirement, and life expectancy is high, leading to a shrinking workforce supporting a growing number of elderly people. Key factors include economic insecurity, high costs of housing and childcare, changing social norms such as delayed or avoided marriage and childbearing, and workplace and gender dynamics that make balancing work and family difficult for many [1][3][5].
This demographic decline places a significant strain on pensions, healthcare, and public finances. As the population continues to shrink, Japan may rely on migrant labor to make up for labor shortages caused by its declining population [1][5].
Amidst these challenges, anti-immigrant sentiments have been on the rise among Japanese voters. This trend is partly linked to political and social reactions to immigration policy amid labor shortages caused by population decline. While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) supports foreign workers as a partial solution, concerns about illegal immigration and perceived unfair advantages for foreigners have fueled opposition from newer political parties like Sanseito. Sanseito espouses some xenophobic policies, such as restricting foreign ownership of real estate, and has gained some electoral support with a "Japanese First" slogan amid frustrations over inflation and social changes. Meanwhile, other parties advocate for multicultural coexistence, but the public debate reveals tensions over immigration and national identity [2][5].
In 2024, Japan's population stood at 120.65 million people, down from a peak of 126.6 million in 2009. The decline amounted to 908,574 people, the largest population drop since records began in 1968. Japanese nationals aged 65 or over made up 30% of the country's population in 2024, while 60% were between 15 and 64 years old. In contrast, only 686,061 newborns were recorded in 2024, the lowest number since records began in 1899 [1].
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has labelled the population decline a "quiet emergency" and promised more government measures to counter the trend. Despite this, the surge in support for the anti-immigration party Sanseito resulted in the coalition government losing its majority in the recent parliamentary election. As of January 1, 2025, the number of foreign nationals in Japan stood at a record high of 3.67 million people, up from 3.11 million in 2013 [6].
Tokyo remains the most populous city in Japan with 14 million residents, while Chiba Prefecture has continued to grow. Japan has the second-oldest population among economically developed countries, after the tiny state of Monaco. It is worth noting that the text does not provide information about the impact of the anti-immigration party on Japan's economy or immigration policies.
References:
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54663027
- https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-s-population-falls-record-low-as-birth-rate-hits-new-low-2021-07-15/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/15/world/asia/japan-population-decline.html
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/15/national/japan-population-decline-record-low/
- https://www.dw.com/en/japan-faces-record-low-birth-rate-and-population-decline/a-59074339
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1098619/foreign-residents-in-japan/
- The government in Japan is facing pressure to address rising anti-immigrant sentiments, as public opinions shift in response to increasing labor shortages caused by Japan's rapidly declining population.
- The media and politics in Japan have been increasingly focused on the role of immigration in the country's economy and general-news, as the government grapples with the challenge of securing enough workers to maintain its economy while also addressing public concerns about immigration.
- Given the declining population, the world is watching Japan's political responses to immigration and anti-immigrant sentiments, as other countries may face similar challenges in the future.
