Single Households Are Seriously Increasing

The Statistics Bureau of Japan released the Population Estimates as of October 1st, 2023. The total population of Japan was 124,352 thousand, decreasing by 595 thousand, or 0.48%, from the previous year. The decrease has been continuing for thirteen consecutive years. Natural decrease, which means the margin between all deaths and births, marked record high of 837 thousand. Deaths surpassed births for seventeen consecutive years. Even how Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, appeals his determination for raising birth rate, low birth rate and aging of Japanese society has not been improved.

According to the survey, population of under fifteen years old was 14,173 thousand (-330 thousand) and that between fifteen and sixty-four were 73,952 thousand (-256 thousand). Although the people in sixty-five years old or older decreased by 9 thousand to 36,227 thousand, seventy-five years or older among them marked significant increase by 714 thousand, amounting to 20,078 thousand.

 

New births between October 2022 and September 2023 were 758 thousand, decreasing 41 thousand from the previous year. Deaths were 1,595 thousand with increase of 65 thousand. Immigration marked 3,250 thousand with increase of 1,654 thousand, while emigration was 3,008 thousand with increase of 1,587 thousand. Migration change marked 242 thousand of increase. Even though Japan increased certain amount of immigration, total population marked significant decline with low birth rate.

 

Although the people in sixty-five years old or older decreased a little, they occupied 29.1% of all, marking new record. It was caused by occasional increase of deaths and is expected to be turning into increase in the future. While only Tokyo among forty-seven prefectures marked increase of population, death surpassed new births in all the prefectures.

 

Aging of the society is serious as proved by another statistics. National Institute of Population and Social Security Research released the estimate of households, which indicated that less than two people in average would live in a house in 2033.

 

Caused by decrease of marriage, people living alone will increase to 23,300 thousand in 2050, occupying 44.3% of all households. 10,840 thousand of sixty-five years old or older will be living alone in 2050, which means one-fifth of all household will be aged ones.

 

Male household living alone will significantly increase. Between 2020 and 2050, the ratio of single male in sixty-five years old and older will increase from 16.4% to 26.1%. Non-married male among single aged male households will increase from 33.7% to 59.7%.

 

Low ratio of marriage will bring a serious problem in the future. Although Kishida administration focuses on helping families raising children, it is necessary to take action toward more marriages for young generation.

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