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One in 10 Japanese are older than 80

AFP
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023

TOKYO: More than 10 percent of Japanese people have crossed 80 years or older for the first time, new official data showed, as the nation faces a rapidly greying population.

Government data released on Sunday, ahead of Monday´s “Respect for Aged Day” national holiday, also showed that the share of Japan´s population at 65 or older expanded to a record 29.1 percent from 29.0 percent a year ago.

The level compared with second-ranked Italy´s 24.5 percent and third-ranked Finland´s 23.6 percent, according to the internal affairs ministry. “Japan has the highest percentage of elderly population in the world,” the ministry said in a press release.

For decades, Japan has seen its population shrink and grow older as young people delay marriage and children largely due to unstable jobs and economic difficulties. As a result, Japan has seen ballooning costs for elderly care with not enough young people to fill jobs and pay for various social and welfare programmes.