- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,057
- 18,914
On Friday, officials in Yamagata Prefecture reported that the local population had dipped below one million as of 1 May, falling to 999,378—a month-on-month decline of 962 residents. It is the first time since 1920 that the population has slipped under the million mark, highlighting the deepening demographic challenges facing the region.
The decline reflects a long-term trend. After peaking at 1.36 million in 1950, Yamagata's population dipped through the decades, briefly stabilising in the 1970s and 1980s but falling sharply again from the late 1990s. It dropped below 1.1 million in 2018 and has since declined by over 10,000 people annually.
Yamagata is now the 12th prefecture in Japan with a population of less than one million. Others include Akita and Toyama, both of which fell below the threshold in recent years. In contrast, Tokyo continues to experience population growth, rising by over 33,000 in April alone, which illustrates the ongoing concentration of people in major urban centres.
Prefectures with a population of less than comprise Yamagata, Toyama, Kagawa, Akita, Wakayama, Yamanashi, Saga, Fukui, Tokushima, Kochi, Shimane, and Tottori.
The decline reflects a long-term trend. After peaking at 1.36 million in 1950, Yamagata's population dipped through the decades, briefly stabilising in the 1970s and 1980s but falling sharply again from the late 1990s. It dropped below 1.1 million in 2018 and has since declined by over 10,000 people annually.
Yamagata is now the 12th prefecture in Japan with a population of less than one million. Others include Akita and Toyama, both of which fell below the threshold in recent years. In contrast, Tokyo continues to experience population growth, rising by over 33,000 in April alone, which illustrates the ongoing concentration of people in major urban centres.
Prefectures with a population of less than comprise Yamagata, Toyama, Kagawa, Akita, Wakayama, Yamanashi, Saga, Fukui, Tokushima, Kochi, Shimane, and Tottori.
山形県、１２番目の「１００万人割れ」県に…４５年後には５０万人下回る予測も
【読売新聞】 山形県は３０日、県推計人口（１日現在）が１００万人を割り、９９万９３７８人になったと発表した。前月比で９６２人減少した。県人口が１００万人を下回るのは記録上１９２０年以来。人口の減少傾向に歯止めがかからない中、社会・経