Synopsis
In 2024, Japan recorded 76,020 solitary home deaths, with a significant majority being elderly. The National Police Agency's data reveals concerning trends of isolation and welfare applications, highlighting the urgency for policies to combat loneliness and support the aging population.Key Takeaways
- 76,020 individuals died alone in Japan in 2024.
- Majority of solitary deaths were people aged 65 and older.
- Highest solitary deaths were among those 85 and older.
- Tokyo reported the most cases at 7,699 deaths.
- Government plans to address loneliness and social isolation.
Tokyo, April 11 (NationPress) In 2024, a staggering 76,020 individuals died alone in their residences across Japan, with 76.4 percent being aged 65 and above, as per information released by the National Police Agency on Friday.
The age group with the highest incidence of solitary deaths at home was those aged 85 and older (14,658), followed by individuals aged 75-79 (12,567), and those in the 70-74 bracket (11,600).
Among the elderly who passed away in isolation, 39.2 percent were found within a day of their death, while 4,538 cases (7.8 percent) involved deceased individuals whose bodies remained undiscovered for more than a month.
Authorities noted that several cases were brought to light following reports of uncollected mail or when neighbors or relatives who had infrequent contact expressed worries.
Regionally, Tokyo had the highest count of solitary home deaths (7,699), trailed by Osaka (5,329), Kanagawa (3,659), and Aichi (3,411).
This is the inaugural compilation of such statistics in Japan, and the government intends to utilize this data for policy formulation aimed at combating loneliness and social isolation.
Japan has been facing the challenge of 'kodokushi' or 'lonely death' for many years. This term describes individuals, frequently the elderly, who die alone and remain unnoticed for long durations.
This issue first drew public attention in the 1980s and has become increasingly pressing due to Japan's swiftly aging population, declining household sizes, and diminishing social connections.
Furthermore, data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare indicated that welfare applications reached 22,320 in November 2024, representing a 1.6 percent rise compared to the same month last year and the highest for November in the last decade.
The ministry linked the increase in applications to factors such as a rise in single-person households and an aging demographic.
As of November 2024, the total number of households receiving welfare was 1,651,995, showing a slight decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous year.
