Japan sees drop in birth rate

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA(AA) - Japan recorded a 6.3% decline in the number of babies born in the country in the January-June period from a year earlier, in an indication of a gradual decline in its population.

According to the government data, some 329,998 children were born in the country during the six-month period as the number of marriages continues to decline amid shifting values, the Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

The decline suggests that the total such births in the country for the full year may dip below 700,000 for the first time.

The number of babies born in the first half of 2023 was 352,240, with a full-year total of 727,277.

Choosing not to marry or late marriages, aside from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are thought to have reduced the number of Japanese tying the knot and having children.

Japan recorded its largest population decrease in history last year, with a significant drop of 861,000 residents, highlighting the nation's ongoing challenges with an aging population and declining birth rates.

The population decreased from 122.42 million in 2022 to 121.56 million in 2023, marking the 15th consecutive year of decline and the largest drop since the survey began in 1968.​​​​​​​