Japan recorded a record 107,677 centenarians, as its aging society increases the burden on pensions and healthcare, amidst declining birth rates and a shrinking workforce.
On September 15, 2569, at 09.52:100 AM, Bloomberg News reported that the number of centenarians in Japan surpassed 100,000 for the first time, reflecting Japan's status as one of the countries with the longest-living populations in the world. At the same time, it underscores the budgetary pressures on caring for a rapidly aging population.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed that as of September 15, 2569, the number of centenarians (those aged 100 and above) reached a record high of 107,677, up from just 153 when data collection began in 2506 and approximately 10,000 in 2541.
This increase reflects advances in public health and medicine, as well as relatively healthy eating habits and active lifestyles. According to United Nations (UN) estimates , by 2569 there will be approximately 672,000 people worldwide aged 100 and over, with Japan clearly having the highest number.
Japanese women comprise approximately 88% of the total centenarian population, and some research links the longevity of Japanese women to historically lower rates of smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and serious accidents.
However, rising life expectancy is putting pressure on Japan's fiscal position, as a declining working-age population bears the burden of increasing pension, healthcare, and elderly care costs. Currently, around one-third of the population, or approximately 40 million people, receive government pensions, while the government also needs to finance other key policies, from defense to economic growth strategies.
The Ministry's report also reflects that a number of elderly people continue to lead active lives even after the age of 100. Some still engage in activities such as karaoke and ground golf, while others pass on their experiences from World War II to younger generations, and some continue to work, such as in rural farming.
Fukuko Ishii, who will turn 100 this month, has also been mentioned by TV Asahi as the world's oldest television producer. Meanwhile, the oldest person in Japan is currently a 114-year-old woman living in Kyoto.
On the other hand, Japan is facing a continuously declining birth rate, with the country's fertility rate expected to fall for the tenth consecutive year in 2025 and reach its lowest level since data began to be collected in 1947. The number of births is projected at around 671,000, compared to approximately 1.59 million deaths in the same year.
To meet the needs of the aging population, the Ministry of Health, Infrastructure and Transport has proposed a budget of approximately 33.7 trillion yen, or 218,000 billion dollars, for pensions and medical services in the next fiscal year. This represents almost a quarter of the total budget request from various ministries, which is approximately 143 trillion yen.
In addition to budgetary burdens, Japan faces a shortage of elderly care workers. The government estimates that by 2569, the country will need approximately 2.4 million elderly care personnel, an increase from approximately 2.1 million in 2567.
The government has therefore turned to more foreign labor, with approximately 66,000 foreign caregivers for the elderly under the skilled worker visa program last year. The government plans to accept up to 160,700 such workers under this framework and new foreign worker programs.
Japan's situation, therefore, may be a foreshadowing of the demographic challenges that many countries will face in the future, particularly South Korea and Singapore, which also have high average life expectancy and are facing similar problems: an aging population, declining birth rates, and a shrinking labor force.
Reference: www.bloomberg.com
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