Why major Asian country’s child population has hit record low

• Japan's child population has fallen to a record low of 13.29 million children aged 15 and under as of 1 April 2026, marking the 45th consecutive year of decline.
• Children now account for just 10.8 per cent of the total population, the lowest proportion on record and a trend that has continued for 52 straight years.
• The latest figures show a decrease of 350,000 children from the previous year, with births in 2025 also dropping to a record low of 705,809.
• The government has designated the period through 2030 as a “final opportunity to reverse the trend” of the demographic crisis, despite previous support measures proving ineffective.
• According to a United Nations survey, Japan has the second-lowest share of children among countries with populations exceeding 40 million, behind South Korea.

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Asian nation sees child population fall for 45th straight year to hit record low