864,000 babies were born in Japan in 2019, while over 1,300,000 deaths were reported.
With this trend, Japan will have a population of 87 Million by 2060 (against the current 127 Million).
There are various reasons for this crisis which may result in the country failing to maintain its population.
Reason 1: Fewer people want to get into relationships.
A research by government in 2015/16 estimated that close to 40% of men and women between 20-39 are single and not interested in a relationship.
State-sponsored match-making events are being organised to lure youngsters into relationships.
Reason 2: Those who are getting married are getting married quite late in life.
Such cases are very high and government released “women’s handbook” to educate young females on high and low points of fertility.
Reason 3: The ‘lifelong-employment’ concept has vanished.
There was a time when once you got a job, it was for life; now over 40% have temporary or part-time jobs and they are not confident they can sustain a family with it.
Reason 4: Shortage of childcare facilities.
There are long waiting lists for state-funded daycare facilities and because of lack of childcare facilities, having a baby would mean women compromising their careers, which is not acceptable to many.
Reason 5: Rising costs of raising a child.
Japan is 21% more expensive than Australia and 290% more expensive than India; to raise a child from birth to graduation costs around $600,000.
That this cost is one of the major reasons was proven when a town, Nagisho, improved the birth rate slightly by offering a gift of $2785 to new mothers; but this model is not sustainable.
The government is considering steps such as increasing privileges for the young at their jobs (and may be reducing it for their older colleagues) but such measures are not easy.
