Japan’s Elderly Population Reaches Record 36.25 Million, Nearly One-Third of Total Population

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Japan’s elderly population has reached a record high of 36.25 million, making up 29.3 percent of the total population, according to data released by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. This marks the highest proportion of elderly individuals among countries or regions with populations over 100,000.

Of the elderly population, 20.53 million are women and 15.72 million are men. The data also showed that 9.14 million elderly people were employed last year, accounting for one in seven workers in Japan.

Japan is facing a demographic challenge as the number of working-age individuals declines while healthcare and welfare costs rise. The country’s population decreased by 595,000 in the year leading up to October 1, continuing a 13-year trend of decline.

Projections from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research estimate that by 2040, elderly individuals will make up 34.8 percent of the population. A separate study from the Recruit Works Institute indicated that Japan could face a shortage of over 11 million workers by 2040 due to the shrinking population.