Japan now has more than 100,000 people aged 100 or older, according to the health ministry. The number exceeds 100,000 for the first time, making Japan home to 107,677 centenarians, the highest in the world.
The Centenarian Count
Of those 107,677, 88% are women. The oldest woman is Kishimoto Fuyo, a 114-year-old from Kyoto City. The oldest man is Kato Hikaru, a 112-year-old from Kumamoto.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno welcomed the milestone, saying he was “delighted that so many people are living long, healthy and active lives.” He cited progress in medicine and technology.
Ueno’s warning concerned the difficulty Japan will face in sustaining its social security system.
Why They Live So Long
Experts point to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle as the reasons behind the long lives there. The nation’s cuisine is built around fish, vegetables, and rice, and it contains less saturated fat than many Western diets.
Older people regularly walk, use public transport, cycle, and stretch.
The Aging Population
For over ten years now, sales of adult nappies in Japan have exceeded those for babies, a sign of the country’s aging population.
Businesses have answered by developing goods tailored for the older population, among them a powered suit that supports movement and eyewear whose focus changes automatically.
Birth Rates and Decline
For a population to replace itself, each woman needs to give birth to 2.1 children on average. Last year Japan’s total fertility rate dropped to a record low of 1.14.
Data from the National Institute of Population and Social Security research suggests the population will fall to an estimated 87 million by 2070, down from a peak of 128 million in 2008. That marks a 30% decline from the highest point ever reached.
People aged 65 and older now account for roughly 30% of the population, and they are projected to reach nearly 40% by 2070.
Prime Minister Sanae Takichi has described the decline as a “quiet emergency.”, and Japanese authorities have called the trend an “existential crisis.”.
In 2025, Japan’s total population decreased in all 47 prefectures but two, and the rate of decline is accelerating.
The Government’s Response
Numerous initiatives and financial incentives aimed at encouraging young people to have more children have been introduced by the government. None of them have succeeded in raising birth rates.
The experts point to a variety of causes behind the trend, including fewer people getting married, more women working outside the home, and rising expenses tied to raising children.
While immigration has climbed over recent years, foreigners account for roughly 3% of the population. Opposition to admitting more has risen at the same time.
The Numbers Behind the Count
Japan’s centenarian survey started in 1963, at which point there were 153 individuals aged 100 or older. The number grew to 1,000 in 1981, and reached 10,000 by 1998.
Before the government sends out its annual letters and traditional sake cups to mark the occasion for those reaching a certain age, it first releases the latest figures. This custom takes place during the country’s yearly “Respect for the Aged” public holiday, when officials honour citizens who have reached the age of 100.
The Accuracy Question
Earlier research has raised questions about the accuracy of global centenarian counts. Errors in data, unreliable public records, and missing birth certificates could all contribute to inflated figures.
In a review of family records in Japan carried out by the authorities in 2010, it was discovered that more than 230,000 individuals were recorded as being aged 100 or older, yet could not be located. Some had passed away many years earlier.
Patchy record-keeping was blamed for the error, along with fears that some families had concealed the deaths of elderly relatives so they could keep collecting their pensions.
What This Means
The centenarian milestone is cheerful. The population figures are not.
| Year | Centenarians |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 153 |
| 1981 | 1,000 |
| 1998 | 10,000 |
| Now | 107,677 |
- The population is shrinking
- The fertility rate is below replacement
The sake cups and the 114-year-old headlines are real.
Source material: “More than 100k people in Japan are now aged 100 or older,” the BBC.
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