Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Japan’s Declining Birth Rate Hits an All-Time Low

Japan’s birth rate has collapsed over the past 40 years with under 800,000 children born in 2022 – the lowest since records began.   

kai keisuke

Japan’s birth rate has collapsed over the past 40 years with under 800,000 children born in 2022 – the lowest since records began.   

President, Fumio Kishida has pledged that the Government will introduce more financial incentives to help improve the birth rate by giving more money to new parents and doubling the childcare support budget.

“Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society,” Kishida told the Japanese parliament.

Less than 18% of 18-35 years olds in Japan intend to get married. Credit: Shutterstock

He added,

“Focusing attention on policies regarding children and child-rearing is an issue that cannot wait and cannot be postponed.”

The population of the world’s third-biggest economy has been in decline for the best part of a decade and with a record-low birth rate for six years in a row, Kishida is under increasing pressure to address the issue.

In December, Kishida announced that the government would give expectant parents the equivalent of $700 to help with costs during pregnancy and an additional $600 when the baby is born, on top of the $3,100 new parents already receive.

The decline in births correlates with a decrease in marriages, as it is uncommon for couples to live together before tying the knot and casual sex is frowned upon.

The Japanese Government has announced plans to give new parents $3,700. Credit: Shutterstock

The economic and social stigma surrounding single mothers points to why only a small percentage of babies are born out of wedlock. 

Little Ones

In an interview with Asian business site, HiveLife, Kunihisa Koyama the founder of Little Ones, which provides stable housing and support to single mothers in Japan said: “Support for single-parent families is very rare in Japan. Single mothers also don’t have much time or many opportunities to ask for help.” 

He added: “Single mothers are a very vulnerable group and they face many challenges that are often hidden and unique to Japan due to its conservative culture. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of single-mother households grew by 50% between 1992 to 2016.

“Laws and practices centred around divorce, custody, alimony, and child support in Japan are below Western standards – surveys indicate that only about 10% of divorced mothers receive any child support. There is also a significant gender wage gap in Japan where working women earn roughly 30% less than men in a similar position.” 

-Kunihisa Koyama
Less than 10% of divorced mothers in Japan receive any child support. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to a 2021 survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security in Tokyo, many young people do not intend to marry.

In that survey, 17.3% of men and 14.6% of women aged between 18 and 34 said they had no intention of ever getting hitched. However, in 1982, that was just 2.3% of men and 4.1% of women.

Financial burdens have been cited as reasons to stay single as the job market has become more competitive and wages have stagnated.

According to Professor Mari Miura, a political scientist at Sophia University in Tokyo, young people believe “the economic and demographic numbers make the future look so grim. They believe the pie is shrinking, so if they do get a piece, they have to stick to it. The priority is stability. Nobody has big dreams anymore.”

Less than 800,000 children were born in Japan last year. Credit: Shutterstock

The economic growth of the 1980s meant it was easier to gain permanent employment, and whilst the housing industry was booming, mortgages were more accessible.

A new wave of feminism and the introduction of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law in 1985 meant a shift in traditional gender roles as women were encouraged to enter the workforce.

In 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated the urgency to create “a society in which women shine.”

According to research by Statista Research Department, the employment rate for women rose from 46.2% in 2012 to 52% in 2021.

Written By

Photographer and postgraduate visual journalism student from South Wales, UK.

Advertisement
Advertisement

You May Also Like

College

By combining witty puns with ingenious drinking methods, this invention is helping college students party safely one Borg at a time.

Tech

The truth and stories of the latest generation language model by Open AI.

College

US college enrollment is stabilizing after a multiple-year decline, according to a new report by the National Student Clearing House.

Fashion

Balenciaga took to the runway at Paris Fashion Week, was their simple, paired-down approach enough to redeem their reputation since their fall from grace?

Fashion

Diversity and inclusion are on the rise in the fashion industry.

News

The Biden Administration announced a new plan set to modernize the U.S. organ distribution system that hasn't changed since 1986.

Culture

Exploring the success and failure of hit reality show Dance Moms and how fans are engaging with the show today.

Food & Drink

When home is out of reach, food can often be where the heart is. The cuisines of the world bring peace to your corner...

Social Media

Deinfluencers are dissuading people from purchasing trendy products to combat overconsumption.

Culture

The newest TikTok trend #corecore is a reaction to the constantly changing TikTok trend cycle. Is it an aesthetic itself or an art movement...

Fashion

Resellers are the new landlords of this generation apparently.