Latest news with #birth rate
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Biggest drop in Japanese nationals seen alongside record high in foreign residents
The total population of Japanese nationals in Japan fell to 120.65 million as of Jan. 1 this year, down 908,574 compared to the previous year, marking the 16th straight year of population decline. Meanwhile, the population of foreign residents in Japan increased by 354,089 from last year — a 10.65% increase — reaching around 3.68 million people, the internal affairs ministry said Wednesday. The figure is the highest since the ministry began taking count in 2013. Foreign residents — defined as those with residential status allowing them to stay in Japan for three months or longer — make up 2.96% of the total population, also an all-time high. The number of foreign residents plunged during the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, but the figure has grown more than 10% year-on-year for the past three years, canceling out the pandemic's impact on the rising trend. In the past year, the number of foreign nationals who moved to Japan from abroad was a record 661,809. The natural increase in the number of foreign residents — calculated as the difference between the number of newborns and the number of people that died that year — rose by 13,665 people. In contrast, there was a stark natural decrease in the Japanese population, down by 912,162 people, demonstrating the impact of the declining birth rate combined with an increasing death rate. The data shows that 2024 was the 17th consecutive year in which there was a natural decrease in the population of Japanese nationals in the country, and the largest drop since the ministry began taking count. The combined total population of Japanese and foreign nationals was 124.3 million. Breaking the figures down by prefecture, Tokyo had the largest overall population of around 14 million, up 90,632 from the year before, followed by Kanagawa Prefecture with 9.2 million and Osaka Prefecture with 8.77 million. About 11% of Japan's population lives in Tokyo. In each of the other 45 prefectures besides Tokyo and Chiba, the population declined. The most severe drop was seen in Akita Prefecture, where there was a 1.84% decline resulting in a population of 907,593 people. This was followed by Aomori Prefecture, which saw a 1.64% decline, and Kochi Prefecture with 1.59%. The data is a clear demonstration of overconcentration in the nation's capital as many continue to relocate to Tokyo from other regions, leaving the rural areas depopulated. The smallest population was seen in Tottori Prefecture, with 534,003 people, followed by Shimane, with 642,590, and Kochi, at 664,863. Looking at the foreign population, Hokkaido had the largest increase, at 19.57% year-on-year, followed by Miyazaki Prefecture at 18.28% and Saga Prefecture at 16.39%. The foreign population was also concentrated in major areas, with about half residing in the five prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Kanagawa and Saitama. Akita, Tottori and Kochi prefectures had the smallest foreign resident populations, hovering at around 6,000 in each. Looking at the difference in age demographics, the number of children between the ages of 0 and 14 years only made up 11.28% of the total population. Those over 65 made up around 28.89%.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will a free year of preschool entice parents to procreate? China bids to boost births
China will waive tuition fees for children in their final year at public kindergartens from this autumn, as the country intensifies efforts to address its plummeting birth rate. Advertisement The move, part of a phased plan to make preschool education free, aims to 'effectively lower education costs and improve the level of basic public education services', the State Council, China's cabinet, said on Tuesday. Children enrolled in approved private kindergartens will also have their tuition fees reduced, with the amount based on the value of the fee exemption at public kindergartens in the same locality. While parents will still have to pay other fees, such as meal expenses and administrative charges, the scheme is expected to offer welcome relief to families struggling with a weak labour market and a prolonged real estate slump that has eroded household wealth amid a slowing economy. 'These measures can be viewed as a continuation of previous consumption policies,' said Ding Shuang, chief Greater China economist at Standard Chartered Bank, adding that they are a step in the right direction even if their impact remains uncertain. Advertisement Kindergartens will be provided with subsidies to offset the loss of tuition revenue from the new policy, with funding to be shared by the central and local governments. Beijing will fund at least half, and up to 80 per cent, of the total cost, depending on the fiscal strength of the locality, according to guidelines released by the State Council.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will a free year of preschool entice parents to procreate? Beijing bids to boost births
China will waive tuition fees for children in their final year at public kindergartens from this autumn, as the country intensifies efforts to address its plummeting birth rate. The move, part of a phased plan to make preschool education free, aims to 'effectively lower education costs and improve the level of basic public education services', the State Council, China's cabinet, said on Tuesday. Children enrolled in approved private kindergartens will also have their tuition fees reduced, with the amount based on the value of the fee exemption at public kindergartens in the same locality. While parents will still have to pay other fees, such as meal expenses and administrative charges, the scheme is expected to offer welcome relief to families struggling with a weak labour market and a prolonged real estate slump that has eroded household wealth amid a slowing economy. 'These measures can be viewed as a continuation of previous consumption policies,' said Ding Shuang, chief Greater China economist at Standard Chartered Bank, adding that they are a step in the right direction even if their impact remains uncertain. Kindergartens will be provided with subsidies to offset the loss of tuition revenue from the new policy, with funding to be shared by the central and local governments. Beijing will fund at least half, and up to 80 per cent, of the total cost, depending on the fiscal strength of the locality, according to guidelines released by the State Council.
