TOKYO: The number of children under the age of 15 in Japan has dropped to an estimated 13.29 million as of April 1, marking a decline of 350,000 from a year earlier and setting a new record low, according to government data released Monday, a day ahead of Children’s Day.
The downward trend has now continued for 45 consecutive years, despite government efforts to address the falling birthrate through expanded financial support for families raising children.
Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications shows that children now make up 10.8 percent of the total population, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous year. This is the lowest proportion recorded since comparable data collection began in 1950.
The figures, which include foreign residents, are based on population estimates derived from Japan’s national census conducted every five years.
By gender, the child population comprises 6.81 million boys and 6.48 million girls. Age-wise distribution indicates a continued decline in births, with 3.09 million children aged 12 to 14 compared to just 2.13 million aged 0 to 2.
Preliminary data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that the number of births in 2025 fell to a record low of 705,809, marking the 10th consecutive year of decline.
Japan’s child population has been shrinking since 1982, following a peak of 29.89 million in 1954. The country experienced a second baby boom between 1971 and 1974.
According to surveys by the United Nations, Japan ranks second lowest among 38 countries with populations exceeding 40 million in terms of the share of children, with South Korea recording the lowest at 10.2 percent.
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