Japan Smashes Record With 100K Centenarians but Economists Warn of Looming Crisis

Japan's centenarian population nears 100,000 as economists warn rising interest costs, pensions and healthcare could put further strain on the world's most indebted rich economy (Credit: Teo Romera/Flickr)

Japan has hit a new milestone in healthy ageing, with official figures showing 99,763 people aged 100 or over, as economists warn that a rapidly greying population is deepening pressure on the country's already‑stretched public finances.

The latest total, released ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, marks the 55th consecutive year Japan's centenarian population has risen, with women making up 87,784, or almost 88 per cent.