Japan’s centenarian population crosses 100,000

The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan has surpassed 100,000 for the first time, reaching a record 107,677 as the country's population continues to age rapidly, according to BBC.

According to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of centenarians stood at 107,677 as of 1 September, up 7,914 from a year earlier. The figure has increased for 56 consecutive years.

Women account for 94,298, or 87.6%, of Japan's centenarian population.

Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old from Kyoto, is the country's oldest woman, while 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto is the oldest man. 

Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was pleased that so many people were remaining active into old age, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining a longer healthy lifespan.

The rise in life expectancy has been attributed to factors including advances in medical care, a diet rich in fish, vegetables and rice, and relatively active lifestyles among older people.

However, the growing number of elderly people is creating significant economic and social challenges for Japan.

People aged 65 and older already account for around 30% of the country's population. At the same time, Japan's birth rate has fallen to historic lows, putting further pressure on its workforce and social security system.

The country's total fertility rate fell to 1.14 last year, well below the replacement level of around 2.1 children per woman.

Japan's population is projected to decline substantially in the coming decades as the number of deaths exceeds births. The government has introduced various programmes and subsidies to encourage people to have children, but these measures have so far failed to reverse the trend.

Experts have attributed the declining birth rate to several factors, including falling marriage rates and the rising cost of raising children, as well as changing social and economic conditions.

Japan's ageing population has also created a growing market for products and services aimed at older people, including mobility-support technologies and other assistive devices.

The country began recording the number of centenarians in 1963, when there were just 153 people aged 100 or older. The figure crossed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012.

The latest figures were released ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday observed on the third Monday of September. The government traditionally honours people who turn 100 with a congratulatory letter and a traditional sake cup.

The rapid increase in the number of centenarians comes amid concerns about the reliability of historical records of extremely old people. A 2010 government audit of family registries found hundreds of thousands of people listed as being 100 or older who could not be accounted for, with some having died decades earlier.

Despite such past discrepancies, Japan's official figures show a sustained and significant rise in longevity, underscoring the scale of the country's demographic transformation.