Japan's population hits record low in five-year census

Preliminary census data released in 2025 reveals that Japan's population has decreased by 2.5 percent over the last five years, falling to 123 million. This represents a reduction of three million people compared to 2020 and is the sharpest decline since record-keeping began in the 1920s. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that these figures confirm an worsening demographic decline. Official reports indicate that the number of births fell for the tenth consecutive year in 2025 to 705,809. As of 2023, the fertility rate was recorded at 1.2, which is significantly below the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain the population. Japan currently holds the world's second-oldest population, trailing only Monaco. While migration is often proposed as a solution to this decline, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has implemented increasingly strict measures regarding the entry of foreign nationals. Previous government efforts to reverse these demographic trends have thus far met with limited success.