Japan's 2025 plan to tackle population crisis

(CLO) Japan is facing a serious demographic challenge as its population has declined for 15 consecutive years, with a record low of only 730,000 births last year, while the number of deaths reached a record high of 1.58 million.

Japan's current population is around 125 million, but projections suggest that this could plummet to just 87 million by 2070. The birth rate has already fallen to a record low of 1.2 births per woman, far below the necessary rate of 2.1. On the other hand, the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over is expected to account for 30-40% of the population by 2070.

The population decline is having serious effects and Japanese policymakers warn that the country has only until 2030 to reverse the trend.

Illustration: Unsplash

Japan's demographic crisis is not just a problem for the country itself, but also a warning for East Asian countries, including South Korea and China, which are also facing plummeting birth rates and aging workforces.

Analysts stress that solving this problem involves not only population policy, but also a change in thinking about the role of family and the workplace.

The Japanese government has rolled out a number of measures to cope with the crisis. It has earmarked 5.3 trillion yen (about $34 billion) for support programs for young families, with the aim of helping to ease financial and social pressures.

Over the next three years, an additional 3.6 trillion yen a year will be spent on child allowances and increased support for child care and education. Officials hope these measures will help convince couples that starting a family is not a risky financial decision.

Japan has also begun to relax its immigration policies. To meet labor needs in sectors such as elderly care and agriculture, the government has introduced more flexible visa regulations that allow foreign workers to stay longer and switch jobs. The goal is to triple the number of foreign workers by 2040 as the domestic workforce continues to decline.

However, cultural and social issues remain major challenges. One of the key factors that makes Japanese women reluctant to start a family is the stressful work culture and lack of support for parents, especially when it comes to balancing work and family.

The Japanese government has begun testing a four-day work week for more than 160,000 public sector employees and flexible arrangements for parents with young children. But analysts like Ekaterina Hertog, associate professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, say real change will only come when men take on more child-rearing responsibilities. Currently, just over 3% of men take parental leave, a low figure compared to the actual need.

Marriage rates are also falling in Japan. Last year, the number of people getting married fell below half a million for the first time in 90 years. Researchers say the problem is linked to social and economic norms, especially gender roles in the family.

Traditional expectations of men as breadwinners and economic factors such as low income have increased the tendency for men to delay or reject marriage. These factors continue to strongly influence the decision to marry and have children in Japan.

Ngoc Anh (according to Newsweek, ET)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ke-hoach-nam-2025-cua-nhat-ban-nham-giai-quyet-khung-hoang-dan-so-post328665.html