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2011-01-02 04:39:28
Sat Jan 1, 1:45 am ET
TOKYO Japan's population fell by a record amount last year as the number of
deaths climbed to an all-time high in the quickly aging country, the government
said Saturday.
Japan faces a looming demographic squeeze. Baby boomers are moving toward
retirement, with fewer workers and taxpayers to replace them. The Japanese
boast among the highest life expectancies in the world but have extremely low
birth rates.
Japan logged 1.19 million deaths in 2010 the biggest number since 1947 when
the health ministry's annual records began. The number of births was nearly
flat at 1.07 million.
As a result, Japan contracted by 123,000 people, which was the most ever and
represents the fourth consecutive year of population decline. The top causes of
death were cancer, heart disease and stroke, the ministry said.
Japanese aged 65 and older make up about a quarter of Japan's current
population. The government projects that by 2050, that figure will climb to 40
percent.
Like in other advanced countries, young people are waiting to get married and
choosing to have fewer children because of careers and lifestyle issues.
Saturday's report showed 706,000 marriages registered last year the fewest
since 1954 and a sign that birth rates are unlikely to jump dramatically
anytime soon.
Japan's total population stood at 125.77 million as of October, according to
the ministry.