Society Older single women face risk of poverty in Japan

A recent survey revealed that 44.1 per cent of single Japanese women aged 65 and older are currently living in poverty, a significantly higher rate compared to their male counterparts. This poverty level is as severe as that observed in working-age single-parent households, which stands at 44.5 per cent. The survey, conducted by Aya Abe, a professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, was based on data from the welfare ministry's comprehensive survey of living conditions in 2021. Abe highlights that social norms assuming men support women have perpetuated a system that neglects women living alone. Interestingly, discussions around "women's poverty" often focus on young women and single mothers, while policies tend to revolve around child support rather than providing essential support for women. Both older men and women face income challenges due to retirement, leaving them vulnerable to poverty.

Single-person households are also more likely to fall into poverty than married-couple households, in which at least one partner is an earner or pension recipient. However, there is a disparity between genders, with the poverty rate for elderly single men at 30 per cent, 14.1 points lower than that for elderly single women. The poverty rate varies among elderly women depending on their marital status. While the rate is 13.5 per cent for married women, it jumps to 43.1 per cent for unmarried women and 43.6 per cent for those who are divorced. The rate for widows stands at 32 per cent. This suggests a higher poverty risk for women who are not married. Widows can receive some support from bereaved family pensions.

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"I eat only cheap pasta for lunch, as I can spare less than 20,000 yen ($135) for food a month," said a woman in her 70s, who has mostly lived on a survivor annuity after her husband died. "But I have a home and nice, old wardrobe, so I don't look poor. Right?" she added with a wry smile. The number of widows and divorced women aged 75 or older will reach 8.17 million by 2030, an increase of 1.3 million from a decade earlier, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (NIPSSR). They will comprise roughly 60% of people in that age bracket, versus 20% for their male counterparts.

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With Japan ageing rapidly, it will be impossible to support people in need with pensions alone. The government should strive to create a society where people can unlock their potential and achieve higher incomes, regardless of gender.


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