TOKYO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of babies born in Japan in 2024 fell from a year earlier to 720,988, marking the ninth consecutive year of record lows, government data showed Thursday.

The preliminary number, including those of foreign nationals, was down by 5 percent, or 37,643, from the previous year, marking the lowest tally since such records began in 1899, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Births decreased in all of Japan's 47 prefectures compared to the previous year, declining at a faster pace than government projections and showing no signs of slowing, the ministry said.

The number of marriages, which directly affects the birthrate, stood at 499,999 couples in 2024, up by 10,718 from 2023 when the figure dropped below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years.

The number of babies born to Japanese nationals in 2024, to be released by the ministry around June, is expected to fall below 700,000 for the first time amid the downward trend.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths in 2024 increased by 1.8 percent, or 28,181, to a record 1,618,684, resulting in the biggest-ever annual decline in total population, the data showed. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)