The number of births in Japan fell for the 10th straight year in 2025, official data showed on Thursday, highlighting the challenges for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A total of 705,809 babies were born in Japan, the preliminary health ministry data showed, down 2.1 per cent from 2024.
The data includes births to Japanese nationals in Japan, foreign births in Japan and babies born to Japanese nationals overseas. Meanwhile, 505,656 couples got married in 2025, up 1.1 per cent, while the number of divorces fell 3.7 per cent to 182,969 cases.
There were 1,605,654 deaths, down 13,030 or 0.8 per cent from 2024. Although, the internal affairs ministry estimated Japan’s overall population as of February at 122.86 million people, down 0.47 per cent, or 580,000, from a year ago. However, the world’s fourth-biggest economy has one of the world’s lowest birth rates and a falling and ageing population.
This is leading to a host of problems, including labour shortages, a ballooning social security bill and fewer working people paying tax. That in turn is adding to Japan’s huge debts. It already has the highest debt ratio among major economies.
