Society Japan faces surge in single-elderly households

Japan predicts sharp rise in single elderly households | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Many countries are grappling with the demographic time bomb of aging populations, and Japan is at the global forefront of this challenge. It's not only that society is graying. New statistics warn of a major spike in the number of elderly Japanese living alone, with almost no one to support them.

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The number of households is expected to decline in Tokyo and all prefectures from around 2045 to 2050. It is estimated the total number of households will drop by 5.6 percent from 2020's total to 52.61 million in 2050. Of those 52.61 million households, single-person homes will make up the largest share at 44.3 per cent. Couples with children will account for 21.5 per cent, and married couples without children will comprise 18.9 per cent. The number of 65-year-olds and up single-person households in this breakdown is expected to see a 46.9 per cent surge to 10.84 million in 2050. This increase will be particularly noticeable in urban areas with large concentrations of homes. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, this number is expected to rise at a pace nearing 70 per cent compared to 2020, significantly surpassing the national average of 46.9 per cent.

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