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.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are facing renewed Western scrutiny after the EU expanded sanctions targeting Russia's supply chains and the U.S. introduced...
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has condemned discussion of Bill H.R. 9087 by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, rejecting what it described as unf...
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The late...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. strikes on Iran entered a 12th consecutive night, while Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, urging President Donald Trump to warn Tehran it would be held responsible for any future Houthi attacks.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Aleksandar Vučić's visit to Kyiv on 15 July appeared to send a geopolitical signal. But the significance of the trip lies less in the journey itself than in the limits Serbia carefully observed.
A new state agency wants the world to take Georgian food as seriously as Georgians already do.
Kazakhstan's grain sector faces a difficult season as drought reduces harvest prospects while mounting security risks in the Black Sea threaten to redirect cheaper Russian grain into Central Asian markets.
Uzbekistan welcomed 6.56 million foreign tourists in the first six months of 2026, a 24.9% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Committee. The figures underline the country's growing appeal as one of Central Asia's leading travel destinations.
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has condemned discussion of Bill H.R. 9087 by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, rejecting what it described as unfounded accusations against Baku and warning the measure could undermine efforts to advance the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process.
Pakistan on Thursday warned Yemen's Houthi movement that any attack on Pakistani-flagged vessels or the country's maritime interests would cross a "red line" and trigger a response under its right to self-defence.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment