Japan's Birth Rate Crisis Worsens

Births in Japan fell to a record low last year, according to newly released government data, as the country faces a deepening demographic crisis.
Newsweek has contacted the Japanese Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
Japan's steadily declining births and overall aging population present serious long-term risks, threatening to sap the world's fifth-largest economy of vitality and strain its social welfare system.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has labeled the trend a "quiet emergency" and made reversing it a central pillar of his agenda.
The number of babies born to Japanese citizens in 2024 fell to 686,061, a 5.7 percent drop from the previous year, according to statistics the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released on Wednesday. It marked the first time since 1899, when record-keeping began, that annual births fell below 700,000.
For the 18th consecutive year, deaths outpaced births, resulting in a net population loss of 919,237, the ministry said.
Japan's fertility rate also declined, falling to 1.15 expected births per woman-down from 1.2 in 2023. A rate of 2.1 is widely considered the replacement threshold for a stable population without large-scale immigration.
Japan is not alone. China and Taiwan face similar demographic declines, while South Korea-which has the distinction of having the world's lowest fertility rate-joined Japan last year as a "super-aged society," meaning people 65 and older make up 20 percent of the population.
Kei Nishiuchi, the CEO of SoujouData Inc., a data science consultancy in Tokyo, told the Fuji News Network: "As the number of elderly increases and the working-age population shrinks, we're starting to see an impact on the economy's overall productivity. Even the very assumptions behind how our society redistributes resources-such as who pays taxes and who provides eldercare-are being called into question.
"This is not a crisis that's still on the horizon-it's one that has already begun. I think we need to recognize that."
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a parliamentary speech in October: "The low birth rate and the resulting population decline are a challenge to the very foundations of the country-a quiet emergency, so to speak."
Health officials have warned that Japan has only until the 2030s to reverse course. However, measures such as childcare subsidies and fertility treatment coverage have had little effect.
Some analysts have suggested that Japan's outlook may be less dire than feared, citing its heavy investment in automation technologies-such as industrial robots-to offset its shrinking workforce.
Related Articles
Nuclear Arms Race Warning as Warheads IncreaseUS Allies Stage War Games Near ChinaUS Sends Amphibious Warship to Pacific Front LineMap Tracks Chinese Aircraft Carrier Near US Allies
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

CNBC

an hour ago

• CNBC

The lookahead: What next after U.S. strikes on Iran and Europe's 5% defense problem

After a week of global market jitters, the reaction to U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities will be front and center over the coming days. Meanwhile, a trio of heavyweight events could also shape the economic and geopolitical mood. From NATO tensions in The Hague to trade talks in Tianjin and industrial optimism in Berlin — investors will be watching closely. Addressing the nation on Saturday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump said strikes on three of Iran's nuclear sites were a "spectacular military success" that "completely obliterated" the country's major enrichment facilities. The strikes, which mark the first time the U.S. has conducted a direct military attack on Iran, mark a dramatic escalation in geopolitical tensions. Trump's claim about the result of the operation could not be independently confirmed. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the U.S. strikes, describing them as "outrageous" and saying the country "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people." Global investors will be scrambling to assess the fallout. NATO meetings with Trump in attendance have a history of being dramatic. Back in 2017, the White House leader consistently questioned America's commitment to the alliance, and accused other members of owing "massive amounts of money" to the overall share of defense spending. Fast forward to 2025 and the next NATO Leaders Summit with Trump is set to take place in The Hague, the Netherlands on Wednesday. Some problems are familiar – while defense spending has increased dramatically across Europe, countries like Spain risk derailing talks by calling the 5% of GDP target "unreasonable." In addition, the war in Ukraine rages on. Meanwhile other problems are new – hostilities are rising between Israel and Iran, alongside other neighbors in the Middle East, are testing international relations to the limit. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whittaker, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" that the region should not expect a free ride from the U.S. on defense spending, as "the 5% target is not a negotiating tactic." On the other side of the world, the Chinese city of Tianjin plays host to the World Economic Forum's Meeting of New Champions running from Tuesday to Thursday, also known as the Summer Davos. Technology dominates the agenda at a tricky time for relations between China and the West, as trade negotiations with the U.S. are still on-going. Trump may have bought more time for TikTok, extending the deadline for China's ByteDance to divest the social media platform's U.S. business to September, but the latest round of trade talks in London led to a vague stand-off between the two superpowers, with no official readout. Speaking to CNBC right after those negotiations, U.S .Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was asked if current tariffs on China would not shift again, to which he replied, "you can definitely say that." But this may do little to ease the conversations between Chinese officials and corporates in Tianjin, and the international delegates in attendance, who will be looking for more certainty from both the White House and Beijing. Closer to home, it's the Day of Industry conference in Germany on Monday and Tuesday. This annual meeting in Berlin highlights German economic policy and global trade strategies. It could be a good time for the new government to be touting Europe's so-called Engine of Growth, with four economic institutes raising their 2025 and 2026 GDP growth forecasts for Europe's largest economy. During a recent trip to Washington DC, Chancellor Friedrich Merz dodged the ire that other world leaders have faced in the Oval Office, with Trump's focus mostly dominated by his public spat with Elon Musk. But it's not all clear roads ahead for Germany, as the country's auto industry body reports that domestic auto-makers have shouldered around 500 million euros ($576.1 million) in costs associated with Trump's import tariffs.

San Francisco Chronicle​

an hour ago

• San Francisco Chronicle​

US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites, inserting itself into Israel's war with Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that "the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran' after America attacked three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. The ministry made the remarks in a long statement posted Sunday morning. 'The world must not forget that it was the United States — during an ongoing diplomatic process — that betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime,' the ministry said. 'Now, by completing the chain of violations and crimes committed by the Zionist regime, the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran.' It added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests.' THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States attacked three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites were 'completely and fully obliterated' in an address to the nation from the White House. There was no independent damage assessment. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. It was not clear whether the U.S. would continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Iran for nine days. Trump acted without congressional authorization, and he warned that there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against U.S. forces. 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,' he said. Iran's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, warned in a post on X that the U.S. attacks 'will have everlasting consequences' and that Tehran 'reserves all options' to retaliate. Hours later, Iranian missiles struck areas in northern and central Israel, according to an Israeli rescue service. Initial reports suggested at least 16 people suffered minor injuries and several buildings were damaged. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had 'swiftly neutralized' the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. The US helped Israel strike Iran's toughest nuclear site Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran is not actively pursuing a bomb. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued that Iran could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the U.S. in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel that significantly degraded Iran's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. But U.S. and Israeli officials have said American B-2 stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker-buster bomb that only they have been configured to carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground. Trump appears to have made the calculation — at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers — that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear program, perhaps permanently. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on social media, using common alternate spellings for two of the sites. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.' Israel announced Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the U.S. attacks. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation. U.S. military leaders are scheduled to provide a briefing at 8 a.m. Eastern. The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant that is built deep into a mountain, a U.S. official said. The weapons are designed to penetrate the ground before exploding. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. In addition, U.S. submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles, according to another U.S. official who also spoke on condition of anonymity. The International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on X that there has been 'no increase in off-site radiation levels' after the strikes but that it would continue to monitor the situation. The decision to attack was a risky one for Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism. But Trump also vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear program peacefully. For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice — in April and again in late May — persuaded Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time. After Israel began striking Iran, Trump went from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a 'second chance' for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. He has bristled at criticism from some supporters who have suggested that further U.S. involvement would be a betrayal to those who were drawn to his promise to end U.S. involvement in expensive and endless wars. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to attack in a video message directed at the American president. 'Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities, with the awesome and righteous might of the United States, will change history,' he said. Netanyahu said the U.S. 'has done what no other country on earth could do.' Fears of a broader war U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a 'dangerous escalation,' as world leaders began chiming in with calls for diplomacy. 'There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world,' he said in a statement. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had threatened to resume attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign, called on other Muslim nations to form 'one front against the Zionist-American arrogance." Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned the United States on Wednesday that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them.' And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared 'any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region." The Israeli military said Saturday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, while Iran's foreign minister warned before the U.S. attack that American military involvement 'would be very, very dangerous for everyone.' Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel. Trump's decision for direct U.S. military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push — including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians — aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear program. During his previous administration, Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, prompting Tehran to begin enriching uranium to higher levels and restrict the access of IAEA inspectors to its facilities. ___ Madhani reported from Morristown, N.J. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi, Mehdi Fattahi and Amir Vahdat in Iran; Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Lolita Baldor in Narragansett, Rhode Island; and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this story.

Newsweek

3 hours ago

• Newsweek

Japan's Iconic Bullet Trains Get a Makeover

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New designs for a series of Japanese bullet trains have been unveiled and could be on the tracks by the end of the decade. The new E10 Shinkansen model will replace the current E2 and E5 bullet trains when they are retired in 2030, marking the first time a non-Japanese agency has designed Japan's signature mode of transport. Why It Matters The Shinkansen, meaning "bullet train" in Japanese, has forever changed transportation in Japan and in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Japan's nearly 2,000 miles of track connect major cities across three of the country's four main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido. Shinkansen trains transport approximately 150 million passengers per year. Conceptual designs for the E10 Shinkansen, commissioned by East Japan Railway Company. Conceptual designs for the E10 Shinkansen, commissioned by East Japan Railway Company. Tangerine What To Know The new designs were commissioned by the East Japan Railway Company, also known as JR East, and were completed by design studio Tangerine, based in London and Seoul. The Shinkansen will operate on JR East's Tohoku route, connecting Tokyo to Aomori. Matt Round, Tangerine's chief creative officer, told Newsweek that incorporating the culture of Japan into the design was vital for the cross-continental collaboration. "There are so many different parties within the supply chain that you need to work with as a designer in order to bring your vision to life," Round said. "Those relationships are really important, and there's a team of us doing this together. We're bridging cultures, we're bridging technical expertise, and pulling the best teams together to deliver this." For the bullet train, Tangerine adopted a design philosophy called "thoughtful travel," which focused on how the train engaged with Japan's countryside and culture. One example the designers highlighted was the decision to shape the train in a way inspired by sakura flowers, the Japanese cherry blossom. The interior of new bullet train designs, for the East Japan Railway Company. The interior of new bullet train designs, for the East Japan Railway Company. Tangerine "We took inspiration from all of the scenery along the way, from the forests, the coasts, the cities, and used that kind of imagery to fuel the design," Round said. "It's a really great kind of source of inspiration to use, and it's been used many times." What People Are Saying Matt Round, Tangerine's chief creative officer, told Newsweek: "We took the spirit of thoughtfulness and used that to drive passenger preference; both the passengers at home and the passengers abroad. "We began to center all of our design around thoughtfulness, so that we could think really carefully about what we needed to do to satisfy the needs of different consumer groups and different stakeholders within the business. And we arrived at a design philosophy that we call thoughtful travel." What Happens Next The concepts are now moving into the design implementation phase. The first E10 bullet trains are expected to enter service in 2030.