Among the 107,677 people aged over 100 in Japan, 88% are women|The US National Archives
Japan revealed that its centenarian population, those aged 100 and above, has crossed 100,000 for the first time, reaching a record high of 107,677 people.
Among them, 88% are women. The oldest person is Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old woman in Kyoto.
Experts credit the longevity to the healthy diet of fish and vegetables, as well as older people regularly walking everywhere. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno praised the country’s medical and technological advancements in aiding elders.
However, the demographic poses serious economic challenges. Elder care is straining the healthcare system as Japan grapples with a low fertility rate.
It fell to a record low of 1.14 children per woman last year. For more than a decade, sales of adult diapers have outpaced those of baby diapers.
The workforce is shrinking. The country is accepting more skilled labor than usual, but domestic opposition to immigrants has been rising.
Despite government subsidies, high child-rearing costs and low marriage rates continue to suppress birth rates in Japan. Tokyo even introduced a four-day workweek for government employees in 2025 to improve work-life balance.
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security, the population is projected to decrease by 30% from its 2008 peak of 128 million to 87 million by 2070.