Japan's births plumb record low in 2017
23-Dec-17, Nikkei Asian Review
Japanese births are expected to total 941,000 in 2017, the lowest tally in statistics going back to 1899, likely resulting in a natural decline in population by more than 400,000 as deaths mark a postwar peak.
%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20Labor%20and%20Welfare_Nikkei%20Asian%20Review.png "Japans births plumb record low in 2017 (c) Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare Nikkei Asian Review")
Image: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare / Nikkei Asian Review
The numbers show that births will likely fall short of 1 million for a second straight year. The ministry sees fewer women of childbearing age, 25 to 39 years old, as a major culprit. Japan must create an environment conducive to having children, it said.
The ministry also compared birthrates of nine countries, including Japan. The U.S. logged 12.4 births per 1,000 people in 2015, against 12 for the U.K. and 11.8 for France and Sweden. Japan came in last in 2017 at 7.5.