The Downward Trend Of Japan’s Population Has Accelerated. This Is The Reason

The downward trend of Japan’s population has accelerated in recent years. Japan’s fertility rate, which has seen a precipitous fall for many years, has reached another record low as the government ramps up efforts to encourage young people to get married and start families, even after launching its own dating app.

The country of 123.9 million people recorded 727,277 births barely a year ago, as indicated by a new data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The fertility rate – characterized as the all out number of births a woman has in the course of her life – dropped from 1.26 to 1.20.

For a populace to remain stable, it needs a fertility rate of 2.1. Anything above that will result in an increase in the population, primarily consisting of children and young adults, as is the case in India and other nations.

However, experts claim that the fertility rate in Japan has been significantly lower than that dependable level of 2.1 for half a century. It fell below that level after the global oil crisis in 1973 pushed economies into recession and never recovered.

In recent years, the downward trend has accelerated, with the number of deaths exceeding births annually and resulting in a decline in the total population. This has far-reaching effects on Japan’s workforce, economy, welfare system, and social fabric.

In 2023, the country recorded 1.57 million deaths, as per the Health Ministry – over two times the quantity of births.

Furthermore, the number of marriages in Japan decreased by 30,000 last year, while the number of divorces increased.

Due to the country’s population structure, experts assert that the decline is to some extent irreversible and is anticipated to continue for at least several decades. Regardless of whether Japan were to support its fertility rate tomorrow, its populace will continue to fall until the slanted proportion of young people to more grown-ups adjust.

The government is now racing to soften the impact, launching new government agencies to focus specifically on this problem. It has launched initiatives such as expanding child care facilities, offering housing subsidies to parents, and in some towns, even paying couples to have children.

In the capital Tokyo, local officials are trying a new tack: launching a government-run dating app, which is in early testing phases and will be fully operational later this year.

“Please use it as ‘the first step’ to begin marriage hunting,” the app’s website says, adding that the AI-matchmaking system is provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

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Users are asked to take a “values diagnostic test” but there’s also an option to put in the desired traits of a future partner.

“Based on your values and the values you seek in a partner, which can be determined by taking a diagnostic test, AI will introduce you to a compatible person,” it said. “What cannot be measured by appearance or conditions alone may lead to unexpected encounters.”

Interestingly, the youngsters in Japan find dating so hard, so their parents do it for them. Even billionaire Elon Musk was interested in the app, as evidenced by his post on X, formerly Twitter:

“I’m glad the government of Japan recognizes the importance of this matter. If radical action isn’t taken, Japan (and many other countries) will disappear!”

Experts say this scenario is unlikely – the fertility rate is expected to even out at some point, and the country will adjust.

“Marriage is a decision based on one’s own values, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working to build momentum for marriage so that those who think they ‘intend to get married eventually’ can take that first step,” according to the dating app’s website.

Users must be single, over 18 years old “with a desire to get married,” and be living or working in Tokyo, the website says.

It also lists the government’s other measures to support couples – such as providing information on work-life balance, child care and housing support, men’s participation in housework and child-rearing, and career counseling.