Japan's Birth Rate Hits Record Low For Eighth Year

A pedestrian crossing a street with a child is seen through a taxi window in Tokyo, Monday, July 19, 2021. Japan’s birth rate fell to a new low for the eight straight year in 2023, according to

Japan's birth rate has reached a new low for the eighth consecutive year, according to data released by the Health Ministry. The declining birth rate has been described as critical by government officials, who are calling for urgent action to reverse this concerning trend.

The latest statistics reveal that Japan's fertility rate dropped to 1.2 in 2023, with 727,277 babies born last year, marking a 5.6% decrease from the previous year. This is the lowest number of births recorded since data collection began in 1899.