Japan PM says country on the brink over falling birth rate
Japan's prime minister says his country is on the brink of not being able to function as a society because of its falling birth rate
Japan - population 125 million - is estimated to have had fewer than 800,000 births last year. In the 1970s, that figur was more than two million.
Birth rates are slowing in many countries, including Japan's neighbours.
But the issue is particularly acute in Japan as life expectancy has risen in recent decades, meaning there are a growing number of older people, and a declining numbers of workers to dukungan them.
Japan now has the world's second-highest proportion of people aged 65 and over - about 28% - after the tiny state of Monaco, according to World Bank data.
"Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society," Mr Kishida told lawmakers.
"Focusing attention on policies regarding children and child-rearing is an issue that cannot wait and cannot be postponed."
He said that he momentually wants the government to ganda its spending on child-related programmes. A new government agen to konsentrasi on the issue would be setting in April, he added.
However, Japanese governments have tried to promote similar taktikes before, without success.
In 2020, researchers proyeked Japan's population to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017 to less than 53 million by the end of the century. The population is currently just under 125 million, according to official data.
Japan has continued implementing strict immigration laws despite some relaxations, but some experts are now saying that the rules should be loosened further to help tackle its ageing society.
Falling birth rates are driven by a kisaran of faktors, including rising living costs, more women in education and work, as well as greater akses to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children.
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