THE government of Japan continues to find ways to address the declining population after the birth rate in the country hit a historic low in 2023.
The number of births fell 5.1 percent, while the number of marriages decreased to 5.9 percent last year.
The data was the lowest level of marriages recorded in the past 90 years.
The government is expecting the population to drop further, especially since Japan is a country where out-of-wedlock births are rare.
The country’s health ministry released the data on Tuesday.
The annual number of births in Japan also fell below 800,000 for the first time in 2023.
Factors contributing to the decline, as cited by experts, include the high cost of living, a demanding work culture, and the increasing desire for personal fulfillment and staying single rather than performing traditional familial roles.
The government has imposed measures to address the population crisis, such as changing immigration laws, sponsoring speed dating events, and considering filing a bill on boosting child allowances, among others.
Japan has had a declining population since 2008, and the numbers are expected to further decrease by 86.74 million by 2060.
