Tokyo: The number of people aged 100 or above in Japan has hit a new record of 99,763, marking the 55th consecutive annual increase, government data showed on Friday.
The figure represents a rise of 4,644 from last year, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It translates to an average of 80.58 centenarians per 100,000 people. The data was released ahead of the national Respect for the Aged Day on September 15, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Women accounted for the overwhelming majority, making up 88 per cent of centenarians at 87,784, while men numbered 11,979.
Shimane prefecture in western Japan continued to top the rankings with the highest proportion of centenarians per 100,000 residents at 168.69, retaining the position for the 13th consecutive year.
In 2024, Japan’s average life expectancy was recorded at 87.13 years for women and 81.09 for men.
The government began its centenarian survey in 1963, when just 153 people were recorded. The number surpassed 1,000 in 1981 and reached 10,000 in 1998.
Meanwhile, Japan’s broader demographic trends show a shrinking population. As of October 1, 2023, the country’s total population, including non-Japanese residents, stood at 124.35 million, a decline of 595,000, or 0.48 per cent, from the previous year, marking the 13th straight annual fall.
The number of Japanese nationals dropped by 837,000 to 121.19 million, the sharpest decline since records began in 1950. In contrast, the foreign resident population rose by 243,000 to 3.16 million, including workers and students living in Japan for three months or more.
Among the 47 prefectures, only Tokyo reported population growth, its second consecutive year of increase.