[REVISION HISTORY]

Japan demographic shift: aging population and shrinking size

14 recorded revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-18 23:37 UTC → 2026-10-29 02:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Japan is experiencing a significant demographic shift characterized by increasing longevity and a shrinking total population. As of September 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that the number of centenarians reached a record 107,677, marking 56 consecutive years of growth. This milestone, where women constitute approximately 88% of the group, was noted by Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno as a result of medical advancements and healthy lifestyles. Regional data shows centenarian numbers hitting records in Aomori, Nagasaki, and Shiga prefectures. The broader elderly population has reached a record high of 36.24 million, accounting for 29.6% of the total population. Within this group, those aged 75 and over number 21.68 million. The elderly workforce is also expanding, with 9.43 million individuals aged 65 or older employed in 2025, making up 13.8% of the workforce. Final results from the 2025 census confirm a continuing downward trend, with the total population falling to 122,972,528 as of October 1, ~~2025. This represents~~ 2025, a 2.5% decrease from ~~the 2020 census.~~ 2020. While the national population fell, the foreign resident population has seen significant ~~growth. As of~~ growth, reaching a record 4,281,026 by the end of June ~~2026, the number of foreign residents reached a record 4,281,026, representing approximately~~ 2026 (approximately 3.4% to 3.5% of the ~~total population. This marks an increase of roughly 155,000 people since~~ total). To address these challenges, the government has launched meetings to develop a comprehensive population strategy by the end of ~~2025. Chinese nationals remain~~ the ~~largest group with over 941,000 residents, followed by Vietnamese and South Korean nationals. ‘Permanent Resident’ remains~~ year, treating the ~~most common status with 961,342 individuals. Despite this growth, new entrants for ‘Business Manager’ status plummeted by over 80% following~~ decline as a ~~policy change that raised the minimum capital requirement from 5 million yen to 30 million yen. To address labor shortages,~~ “national crisis.” Meanwhile, the Immigration Services Agency is planning to raise the minimum annual salary requirement for highly skilled professionals, currently set at 3 million yen, and aims to revise point-based assessment criteria by the end of March next year. Japan continues a dual-track strategy: expanding necessary labor while tightening ~~management of residency,~~ residency management, including ~~the ability~~ potential revisions to ~~revoke status~~ salary requirements for ~~tax or social insurance non-compliance.~~ highly skilled professionals.

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