Japan’s centenarian population surpasses 100,000
The number of people ages 100 or older in Japan surpassed a record 100,000 this year, the latest government figures show, underscoring the country’s rapidly aging and declining population, reports BritPanorama.
The Health and Welfare Ministry statistics released Tuesday indicate that Japan now has 107,677 centenarians, an increase of 7,914 from the previous year, marking the first time the figure has exceeded 100,000. Nearly 88% of these centenarians are women.
Among them, Kyoto resident Fuyo Kishimoto has been recognized as the oldest Japanese woman at age 114. The title of oldest man goes to 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto in southern Japan.
The figures were disclosed in conjunction with this year’s Respect for the Aged Day on September 15, during which the government honors healthy and active centenarians with a letter from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and a silver sake cup.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno expressed satisfaction with the increasing longevity of citizens, attributing it to advancements in medical technology and healthier lifestyles. He emphasized the need for a sustainable social security system in the face of a growing aging population.
However, many younger individuals are feeling increasingly pessimistic about their futures. A recent survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research revealed that over 20% of single men and women aged 18 to 34 do not intend to marry, with nearly half citing no perceived benefits from marriage.
Ueno acknowledged that factors contributing to this reluctance include the high costs associated with raising children and the mental and physical burdens faced by working parents. He mentioned the government’s commitment to addressing these concerns as part of efforts to address challenges related to Japan’s aging population and dwindling births.
Experts emphasize that Japan’s population decline appears inevitable, with the total fertility rate dropping to a record low of 1.14 in 2025—substantially lower than the 2.1 children required per woman to maintain the population. The 2020 census recorded Japan’s total population at 126 million, with almost 30% aged 65 and older. Projections suggest that this figure could fall to 87 million by 2070, with nearly 40% in the older age group.
Since the beginning of centenarian surveys in 1963, Japan had just 153 centenarians. This number exceeded 1,000 in 1981 and surpassed 10,000 in 1998, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry.
