The number of Japanese children has decreased for 41 consecutive years, reaching a new low in more than 70 years

　　China News Service, May 5. According to Kyodo News, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications released data on the 4th local time, saying that the number of children under the age of 14 in Japan, including foreigners, was 14.65 million, a decrease of 250,000 from 2021. 41 consecutive years of decline.

Data map: The "Sakura Tunnel" in Fukushima, Japan is reopened to tourists.

Image source: Visual China

　　According to reports, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications calculated the above results based on population estimates on April 1, ahead of Japan's official holiday "Children's Day" (May 5).

　　The proportion of children in Japan's total population also fell by 0.1 percentage point to 11.7%, the 48th consecutive year of decline.

The number and proportion of children in Japan are the lowest since 1950 when comparable data are available.

　　The report also said that "pregnancy avoidance", which has caused Japanese people to worry about fertility due to the spread of the new crown epidemic, may also exacerbate the decline in birthrates.

　　According to the calculation results, the current number of boys in Japan is 7.51 million and the number of girls is 7.15 million.

Taking every 3 years as an age group, the number of children aged 12-14 is 3.23 million, the lower the age group, the fewer the children, and the number of children aged 0-2 is 2.51 million.

This reflects the year-on-year decrease in the number of births.

　　The report also said that the number of children in Japan peaked at 29.89 million in 1954, and then turned to decline.

It increased around the second baby boom (1971-1974), but continued to decrease again from 1982.

　　A comparison of 35 countries with populations of more than 40 million, based on the United Nations Demographic Yearbook, shows that while the timing of the surveys varies, Japan has the lowest proportion of children, below Italy's 12.9 percent and South Korea's 11.9 percent.

　　In addition, detailed statistics as of October 1, 2021 show that the number of children in all prefectures in Japan has decreased compared to the previous year.