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Japan's population falls for a 15th year with record low births and record high deaths (apnews.com)

submitted 2 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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Japan’s total population declined for the 15th straight year in 2023, dropping by more than a half-million people as the population ages and births remain low.

Births in Japan hit a record low of 730,000 last year. The 1.58 million deaths last year were also a record high. Japan’s population was 124.9 million as of Jan. 1.

The data released Wednesday by Japan’s Internal Affairs Ministry also showed that the 11% increase in foreign residents helped their population surpass 3 million for the first time. They now make up nearly 3% of the total population and are mostly of working age from 15 to 64.

Surveys show that younger Japanese are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living — which rises at a faster pace than salaries — and a gender-biased corporate culture that adds a burden only on women and working mothers.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 42 points 2 months ago

Hey guys, I have an idea- how about letting in some immigrants?

What? Robots? Okay, have fun with that.

[-] TriPolarBearz@lemmy.world 48 points 2 months ago

Domo arigato Mr. Gaijin ❌

Domo arigato Mr. Roboto ✅

[-] tiredofsametab@kbin.run 3 points 2 months ago

I mean, I immigrated to Japan fairly easily. If you have a university degree and speak good English, there are visas to be had. IT as well. I do find I have a tougher time since I came over in my 30s, compared to the younger people coming here.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

A visa is not citizenship. How many people are going to want to emigrate if they'll never be citizens?

[-] tiredofsametab@kbin.run 4 points 2 months ago

You can apply for citizenship in Japan after 5 years (which, until recently, was faster than any permanent residency requirements). The only downside is you must give up all other citizenships. Other than that, it's a mountain of paperwork and does have a minor Japanese language requirement, but it's apparently not too hard. I need to be able to go back to the US to help my parents as needed so it's not an option for me. PR will get me a number of the same benefits, though obviously not all of them.

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago

So many countries are seeing their birthrate fall and a future with a smaller population is looming. But why struggle and fight it? What is there to gain by cramming more people into the system?

Here's a thought: embrace the decline of population. Society definitely should because it will increase wages due to lower worker pool. The only people who are actually scared of lower population are the ones who view that population as expendable. Those same people who are scared of losing the meat shield between them and their wealth are the ones who steered us all into this mess anyway. There is no plan, no future, no continued hope for them to burn through endless resources at our expense.

Let the population fall. It's the easiest way to combat climate change.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 24 points 2 months ago

Problem is that you still have people aging and fewer young people working and contributing to the economy. You end up with a shrunken tax base to support the country.

[-] Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago

Understandable but like, money doesnt really exist. We have the resources available to just take care of the aging populations

[-] Shard@lemmy.world 20 points 2 months ago

Exactly WHO is going to take care of them?

You still need doctors, nurses and care givers to operate the geriatric departments, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. What kind of patient - doctor ratio are we going to have before quality of care degrades to an unacceptable level?

Its not the current generation of elderly that's going to be in trouble. Its the subsequent generations. You can import labor but where will you import from when every other country is also facing an aging population?

We do not yet have robots capable of replacing caregivers. Its not just a money issue. Its a manpower problem as well.

[-] Phegan@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Look, I hate capitalism, but we can just pretend the system doesn't exist and let people suffer.

[-] Phegan@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

The problem is that the population is aging, there aren't enough young people to support an aging populace.

[-] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

That's why they have robots to help!

[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 26 points 2 months ago

I think South Korea and Japan are pioneers and we should watch how they handle it before is our time

[-] jumjummy@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago

If you’re referring to the US or most other Western countries, they have an advantage that Japan and South Korea don’t have.. immigration from a diverse set of countries. Best way to counterbalance declining birth rates.

[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

you're right, immigration prevents Europe and North America to become the South Korea of today, but birth rates are declining in Latin America, Africa, etc, so eventually will be a global issue (btw, the down vote you got didn't come from me)

[-] Blizzard@lemmy.zip -2 points 2 months ago

Perhaps I'll go there and help them a little.

[-] MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

Hopefully you have the child-bearing hips to tolerate it.

[-] Doesntpostmuch@possumpat.io 5 points 2 months ago

Yeah, you better not have those lying hips

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I have it on good authority that hips don't lie.

[-] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

They didn't say help with what. Maybe they are a serial killer and will help with the death rate.

[-] MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

Hopefully, they have the serial-killing hips to help with the death rate.

[-] tiredofsametab@kbin.run -3 points 2 months ago

gross. Also, the reason people aren't having kids isn't due to a lack of people fucking, despite what some articles may say; it's entirely related to societal issues that need complex fixes. That said, three of my friends have had kids in the last couple years.

this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024

170 points (98.3% liked)

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