On the 1st, 65 cities, towns and villages were added to the "depopulated area" where the population is declining, and it became 885 cities, towns and villages, exceeding half of the whole country for the first time.

Based on the "Depopulating Law," the national government designates cities, towns and villages with a large population decline and weak financial strength as "depopulating areas" and provides financial support.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the "depopulated area" based on the results of the census of the deceased on the 1st, and 65 new cities, towns and villages were added.



As a result, the number of "depopulating areas" has increased to 885 out of 1718 municipalities nationwide, and although the designated requirements such as the rate of population decline have been revised, it has exceeded half for the first time since the enforcement of the "Depopulating Law" in 1970.



The ratio of designated municipalities


is highest in Shimane prefecture, which is all 19 municipalities,


followed by


Kagoshima prefecture, which is 42 municipalities excluding Kagoshima city, and Akita prefecture,

which


is 23 municipalities out of 25 municipalities.


increase.



The designated local government can promote regional development by utilizing the depopulation countermeasure business bonds issued by the government, and the budget amount of the business bonds has increased by about 1.8 times in the last 10 years.



At a press conference, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kaneko said, "In some areas, the ratio of elderly people is rising, while the ratio of young people is declining, and the number of depopulated municipalities is increasing. I want to support you. "