Japan | The Prime Minister of Japan gave a warning about the future of the country – society is threatened by a serious population crisis

of Japan prime minister Fumio Kishida has warned the country’s lawmakers of a population crisis that threatens the country’s future. CNN’s according to Kishida said in his speech that Japan is on the verge of not being able to “maintain social functions” due to the declining birth rate.

According to Kishida, it is “now or never” to solve the problem, and the matter simply cannot wait any longer.

– When thinking about the sustainability of our nation’s economy and society, we must make supporting children’s education our top priority, Kishida said at the opening of the Japanese Parliament.

In Kishida’s opinion, the government should double its spending on children. In addition, a new state agency will be established in April, which will focus on raising the low birth rate.

in Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. The country’s Ministry of Health estimates that fewer than 800,000 children were born in Japan last year, the first time since statistics began in 1899.

At the same time, Japan’s population is aging. The country’s life expectancy is one of the highest in the world, and in 2020 Japan had 1,500 people over 100 years old.

A low birth rate combined with a high life expectancy has shrunk Japan’s labor force. There are no longer enough young people to fill roles that are necessary for society.

CNN’s according to, Japan’s low birth rate is based on, among other things, the high cost of living, lack of space and the absence of child care networks in the cities. Fewer and fewer couples have children, as many live far away from their families who could help with the children.

This is also influenced by the growing pressure of working life and the fact that attitudes towards marriage and family life have changed.

For several years now, the Japanese government has been trying to tackle the low birth rate by, among other things, investing in child care services and offering families larger apartments. In rural areas, some cities even pay couples who have children.