Japan's births among Japanese citizens slid to a record low of 671,236 in 2025, while the country's total fertility rate dropped to a fresh historic low of 1.14, according to government data released on Wednesday and cited by local media. The numbers mark the 10th consecutive year of decline on both measures, deepening one of the developed world's most acute demographic crises.

Key numbers from the latest data

Births fell by 2.2 per cent, or 14,937 fewer babies, compared with the previous year, while the fertility rate eased by 0.01 percentage point, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported. Officials noted that the pace of decline has slowed relative to recent years — a moderation attributed to a relatively stable cohort of 25 to 35-year-olds born around the 1990s.

Marriages tick up, but ageing accelerates

Marriages, considered a leading indicator of future birth trends in Japan, rose for the second straight year to 489,119. The average age at marriage edged down to 31.0 years for men and 29.7 years for women.

Deaths, however, remained overwhelming. Japan registered 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down for the first time in five years, but still outpacing births by 918,253. That gap marks the 19th consecutive year of natural population decline.

Child population at lowest since 1950

Separate data released in May by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed the country's child population stood at an estimated 13.29 million as of 1 April, a drop of 350,000 from a year earlier and the 45th straight annual decline. The share of children under 15 years fell 0.3 percentage point to 10.8 per cent of the total population — the lowest since comparable records began in 1950.

The breakdown showed 6.81 million boys and 6.48 million girls. Children aged 12-14 numbered 3.09 million, while those aged zero to two stood at just 2.13 million, underscoring the thinning pipeline of newborns.

Government calls it a 'final opportunity'

Despite years of policy interventions — including expanded financial support for families raising children — the slide has not reversed. The Japanese government has declared the period through 2030 as the country's “final opportunity to reverse the trend”, a framing that reflects rising urgency in Tokyo's policy circles.

The figures, which include foreign residents in the broader population estimates, are calculated against the national census conducted every five years. With deaths set to keep outpacing births, the demographic squeeze on Japan's workforce, pensions and rural municipalities is expected to intensify in the coming years.