Society Government estimate reveals record decline in Japanese population as of October 2024

Get used to the new figure: Japan's population is down to 120m.

According to government data released yesterday, the number of Japanese nationals was estimated at 120.3 million as of October 2024, marking a record year-on-year decrease of 898,000. Including foreign residents, Japan's total population declined by 550,000 to 123.8 million as of 1 October 2024—its 14th straight year of population decline, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported.

The sharpest drop in Japanese nationals since comparable data became available in 1950 comes as the number of people aged at 14 and below dropped by 343,000 to 13.83 million, accounting for a record low of 11.2 percent of the total population. In contrast, the population of those aged 65 and over rose by 17,000 to 36.24 million, reaching a record high of 29.3 percent. The working-age population, or people between 15 and 64, fell 224,000 to 73.73 million, accounting for 59.6 percent, the estimate showed.

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Maybe someone needs to invent an aphrodisiac ap for cell phones.

Rearing children is increasingly difficult. It is expensive financially and in terms of time and effort. Children are demanding, distracting and they interfere with pleasure and duty, alike. The idea that they will look after you in your old age, giving you loving care and time is in fact false and you're lucky to see them on high days and holidays, that is, of course until they require childcare for their own progeny. Why would an increasingly infantilised adult population, obsessed with their own pleasure and needs, commit to such a selfless act as having children?

Get a dog instead, but of course dogs don't pay taxes, much to the chagrin of governments.

Happy Easter, everyone!