Japan child population hits record low for 45th year in a row
Synopsis
Japan's child population has hit a fresh record low for the 45th year running, with just 13.29 million children under 15 — a figure that has more than halved since the 1954 peak of 29.89 million. With only 705,809 births recorded in 2025 and the under-15 share of the population at a 75-year low of 10.8%, decades of government intervention have failed to reverse a demographic slide that now threatens Japan's economic foundations.
Key Takeaways
Japan's child population (under 15) fell to 13.29 million as of 1 April 2025 , down 350,000 from the previous year.
This marks a record low for the 45th consecutive year of decline, per the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications .
Children now make up just 10.8% of Japan's total population — the lowest share since 1950 .
Births in Japan fell to a record low of 705,809 in 2025 , the 10th straight year of decrease.
Japan ranks second lowest among 38 countries (population 40 million+) for child population share, behind only South Korea at 10.2% .
Japan's child population has declined continuously since 1982 , down from a peak of 29.89 million in 1954 .
Japan's population of children under the age of 15 has fallen to an estimated 13.29 million as of 1 April 2025, down by 350,000 from the previous year, marking a record low for the 45th consecutive year, according to data released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The figures were made public on Monday, 5 May — a day before Japan's national Children's Day.
Key Numbers Behind the Decline
The share of children under 15 in Japan's total population dropped by 0.3 percentage points year-on-year to 10.8% — the lowest since comparable records became available in 1950. By gender, the data shows 6.81 million boys and 6.48 million girls. The figures include foreign residents and were derived from population estimates based on a national census conducted every five years.
By age bracket, 3.09 million children were aged 12 to 14, compared with just 2.13 million aged 0 to 2 — a gap that underscores the continuing collapse in birth numbers at the youngest end of the cohort.
Births Hit a Historic Low in 2025
The number of children born in Japan in 2025, including foreign nationals, dropped to a record low of 705,809, marking the 10th straight year of decline, according to preliminary data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This figure represents a sharp long-term fall from Japan's peak child population of 29.89 million recorded in 1954, when post-war baby booms were still driving demographic growth. A second, smaller baby boom occurred between 1971 and 1974, but the downward trend has been unbroken since 1982.
Government Efforts Have Not Reversed the Trend
Despite the Japanese government's sustained efforts to address the falling birthrate — including expanded financial support for child-rearing households and subsidised childcare — the decline has continued unabated for four and a half decades. Critics and demographers argue that financial incentives alone have failed to address deeper structural factors, including high costs of living, long working hours, and shifting social attitudes toward marriage and parenthood among younger Japanese.
Japan Among the World's Lowest for Child Population Share
According to a United Nations survey conducted across countries with populations of 40 million or more, Japan ranks second lowest among 38 nations in the proportion of children in its population. South Korea records the lowest figure at 10.2%, just below Japan's 10.8% — a striking indicator that East Asia's demographic crisis is a regional phenomenon, not an isolated one. This comes amid broader global concerns about ageing populations straining pension systems, healthcare infrastructure, and labour markets across developed economies.
With births falling and the child population share at a 75-year low, Japan faces mounting pressure to either dramatically accelerate its pro-natalist policies or structurally adapt its economy to a shrinking and ageing workforce.
Point of View
809 in 2025 confirm that financial incentives have not moved the needle on birthrates. The more uncomfortable truth is that Japan's pro-natalist spending has largely treated a cultural and structural problem as a financial one. Meanwhile, the age pyramid is inverting in real time: with 3.09 million children aged 12–14 versus just 2.13 million aged 0–2, the next generation of parents is already smaller than the current one. South Korea's even lower child share of 10.2% shows this is an East Asian governance failure, not a Japan-specific anomaly — and neither country has found a credible answer.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japan's current child population?
As of 1 April 2025, Japan's population of children under the age of 15 stands at an estimated 13.29 million, down 350,000 from the previous year. This is the lowest figure on record, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
How long has Japan's child population been declining?
Japan's child population has declined for 45 consecutive years as of 2025, with the downward trend unbroken since 1982. The population peaked at 29.89 million in 1954, following a post-war baby boom.
How many babies were born in Japan in 2025?
A record low of 705,809 births were recorded in Japan in 2025, including foreign nationals, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This marks the 10th straight year of declining births.
How does Japan compare globally on child population share?
Japan ranks second lowest among 38 countries with populations of 40 million or more, with children making up just 10.8% of its population. South Korea records the lowest figure globally at 10.2%, according to a United Nations survey.
What has Japan's government done to address the falling birthrate?
The Japanese government has introduced expanded financial support for child-rearing households and subsidised childcare, among other measures. However, these efforts have so far failed to reverse the 45-year decline in the child population.
