Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
Government data shows just over 671,000 babies were born in 2025, a drop of nearly 15,000 from the previous year and the lowest figure since records began in 1899. The fertility rate also declined to a record low of 1.14, marking the tenth consecutive year of falling births.
The pace of decline has alarmed experts, with the latest figures falling much faster than previously projected. Government researchers had expected fertility to reach such levels only in the 2040s.
A significant factor behind the trend is a steady drop in marriages. Annual marriages have fallen from nearly 800,000 at the start of the century to around 500,000, reducing the number of families being formed.
Despite fewer marriages, surveys indicate that around 80% of single Japanese people still hope to marry. However, experts say social changes are making it more difficult for people to meet potential partners.
Traditional routes such as workplaces, schools and mutual connections have declined in importance, partly due to the rise of remote working and greater concerns about privacy and workplace conduct.
As a result, structured matchmaking services and marriage agencies are seeing renewed interest, particularly among younger people seeking long-term relationships.
Japan’s ageing and shrinking population remains one of its most pressing challenges, with potential consequences for economic growth, labour shortages and the sustainability of social welfare systems.
The Japanese government has introduced a range of measures in recent years to boost birth rates, including financial incentives for families and expanded childcare support, but the latest figures suggest these efforts have yet to reverse the long-term trend.
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