Japan's Elderly Population Declines for First Time in Two Years

As of Monday, Japan's estimated population aged 65 and older is now at 36.19 million, reflecting a decrease of 50,000 individuals compared to the previous year, as reported by the internal affairs ministry. This decline, the first in two years, coincides with the celebration of Respect for the Aged Day, a public holiday, and represents 29.4% of the country’s total population, indicating a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points.

The ministry attributes this decrease in the elderly population primarily to the number of deaths surpassing the number of individuals turning 65. Out of the elderly demographic, there are approximately 15.68 million men, which constitutes 26.2% of the male population, while women aged 65 and over number around 20.51 million, making up 32.4% of the female population.

The proportion of older individuals within the total population is rising annually and is projected to reach 34.8% by 2040, largely due to the aging of Japan's second baby boomers, those born between 1971 and 1974. For 2024, an estimated 9.3 million people aged 65 and older are employed, marking a 21st consecutive year of increase and achieving a record high, with this age group comprising 13.7% of the overall workforce.

Among older workers, the employment rate has also risen, with 25.7% of elderly individuals participating in the labor force, a 0.5-point increase from previous figures. The majority of employed seniors work in the wholesale and retail sectors, numbering 1.33 million, followed closely by 1.15 million in medical and welfare services, and 1.04 million in the broader service industry. Moreover, of the 5.63 million elderly employees, around 4.33 million are nonregular workers, making up a significant 76.9% of this demographic within the workforce.