Japan's births fell below half their 1899 level

Final (kakutei) figures, Japanese nationals in Japan, from MHLW 令和7(2025)年人口動態統計(確定数)の概況, 第2表 人口動態総覧の年次推移. MHLW states 2025 births (671,270, down 14,903 from 686,173) are the lowest since the survey began in 1899 (1,386,981). 2025 total fertility rate 1.14, also a record low (第3表). Selected years shown; each plotted value is the published figure, lines between points are not data. 1944–46 are missing in the source (incomplete records). Derived by progrss: 671,270 / 1,386,981 = 48.4%; 671,270 / 2,696,638 = 24.9% (−75%); natural decrease 1,589,533 − 671,270 = 918,263; 'tenth fall in a row' counts annual declines 2016–2025 (2015 rose from 2014); deaths first exceeded births in 2005, births were higher in 2006, deaths higher every year from 2007. Japan's population in 1899 was far smaller, so the comparison is of absolute births, not birth rates.

Published 3 Nov 2026