Japan's population has experienced an alarming decline in all 47 prefectures, marking a record drop, while the number of foreign residents has reached an all-time high, nearing 3 mn people, according to government data released on July 26. These figures underscore the increasingly vital role that non-Japanese individuals play in the face of the nation's shrinking and aging demographic.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry disclosed that the population of Japanese nationals saw a decrease of approximately 800,000 people, or 0.65%, reaching 122.4 mn in 2022, making it the 14th consecutive year of decline based on residency registrations as of January 1 this year.
Japan's overall population stood at 125.41 mn, experiencing a decline of just over half a million people from the previous year. In contrast, there was a noteworthy 10.7% surge in foreign residents with registered addresses in Japan, an unprecedented rise, as reported by the ministry.
The spike in Japan's foreign population is the most significant year-on-year increase since the government began compiling statistics in 2013. Currently, foreign residents make up about 2.4% of Japan's total population, a notable contribution.
The steady decline in Japan's population can be attributed to a falling birth rate that has persisted since its peak in 2008. Notably, last year recorded a record low of 771,801 births.
In response to this demographic crisis, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made tackling declining birth rates one of his top policy priorities. He has pledged to allocate annual funding of approximately $25.2 bn over the next three years to implement a comprehensive childcare package. This package includes provisions for childbirth and rearing allowances, along with increased subsidies for higher education.
Moreover, Kishida's Cabinet recently approved a groundbreaking plan to expand job categories available to foreign workers, signaling a shift in the country's traditionally closed-door immigration policy. This move aims to pave the way for future permanent residency status for foreign workers, as Japan grapples with a shrinking population and seeks to attract more skilled individuals from overseas.
However, experts warn that the proposed measures aimed at addressing low birth rates are mostly additional funding for existing programs and do not tackle the underlying problems contributing to the population decline. They argue that Japan's conservative government must take more extensive actions to improve working conditions, raise salaries, and create a more inclusive society for minorities and individuals with non-Japanese roots. These efforts are essential to attract foreign workers to move to Japan and encourage them to stay for the long term.
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