Japan has record 100,000 people aged over 100: How societies are ageing

Key Points:

• Japan now has a record 107,677 centenarians, with women making up nearly 88% of this population, marking the 56th consecutive annual increase in the number of people aged 100 or older.
• The country faces a severe demographic challenge, with nearly 30% of its population aged 65 or older and a declining birthrate, as the total fertility rate dropped to a historic low of 1.14 in 2025.
• Japan’s longevity is attributed to factors such as a healthy diet, active lifestyles, and universal healthcare, but the aging population strains public finances and social services due to fewer working-age people supporting increasing pension and healthcare costs.
• Efforts to boost the birthrate through child allowances, subsidized childcare, and parental leave have not reversed the decline, compounded by social issues like delayed marriage, economic insecurity, and unequal childcare burdens on women.
• Japan’s shrinking workforce and labor shortages impact various sectors, especially rural areas, and while immigration has increased slightly, it remains politically sensitive and insufficient to offset demographic trends.