By Daily Review Online
Japan’s population of people aged 100 and above has reached a record 107,677, taking the number of centenarians in the country above 100,000 for the first time, according to the country’s health ministry.
Women account for about 88 per cent of Japan’s centenarian population. Kishimoto Fuyo, a 114-year-old from Kyoto City, is recognised as the country’s oldest woman, while Kato Hikaru, aged 112 and from Kumamoto, is the oldest man.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno welcomed the increase, attributing Japan’s longevity in part to advances in medicine and technology.
The growing number of elderly people, however, is occurring alongside a major demographic challenge, with Japan’s ageing population placing increasing pressure on its social security system.
The government has also raised concerns about maintaining the sustainability of the system as the proportion of older people continues to increase.
Experts have attributed Japan’s high life expectancy to factors including diet and an active lifestyle. Traditional Japanese meals commonly feature fish, vegetables and rice and generally contain less saturated fat than many Western diets.
Many older Japanese people also remain physically active through activities such as walking, cycling, using public transport and stretching.
The growing elderly population has also created a market for products and technologies designed to support older people. Sales of adult nappies have reportedly exceeded those for babies for more than a decade, while companies have developed technologies such as powered exoskeletons to assist mobility and adaptive eyewear.
At the same time, Japan continues to record declining births. The country’s total fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14 last year, well below the replacement level of about 2.1 births per woman.
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projects that Japan’s population could fall to about 87 million by 2070, representing a decline of roughly 30 per cent from its 2008 peak of 128 million.
People aged 65 and above currently account for around 30 per cent of Japan’s population, with that proportion projected to approach 40 per cent by 2070.
The figures highlight the scale of Japan’s demographic shift, as the country simultaneously records a growing number of people living to very advanced ages and a sustained decline in its birth rate.