Japan has a record 68,000 people over 100 years old - and the economy can't keep up
Wikimedia Commons
The new total stands at 67,824, the Asahi Shimbun reports.
Centenarians, as demographers call them, are marvels in the medical science world. But in Japan, widespread longevity has become a burden on the economy.
The country has the highest proportion of people over 65 compared to every other country on Earth. Coupled with falling birth rates, the dwindling pool of young people is struggling to cover the costs related to an aging population.
The economic fight has led to trillions in lost GDP and a population decline of 1 million people, all within just the past five years. If left unabated, experts forecast severe economic downturn and a breakdown in the fabric of social life.
"This is death to the family," Harvard sociologist Mary Brinton recently told Business Insider.
Japan's centenarian population has been rising year over year since 1971, when there were just 339 centenarians.
Last year, government data showed there were 65,000 centenarians. This year marks the 47th consecutive year the country of 127 million has broken its own record.
The US still holds the record for total number of centenarians, but that is primarily due to its large population. Despite being nearly three times the size as Japan, the per-capita rate is nearly three times higher in Japan than in the US. Even in absolute numbers, Japan is only a few thousand people away from having the most centenarians. Demographic trends suggest Japan is bound to claim the top spot sooner rather than later.
The world population is aging, and Pew Research data analyses predicted the current population of 450,000 people at least 100 years old (as of 2015) would grow eightfold by 2050, eclipsing 3.6 million.
Japan holds its seniors in high regard. Since 1963, September 15 has been recognized as Seniors' Day. For those who have hit or will hit their 100th birthday in the calendar year, the government on that day awards them a silver-plated sake dish and a letter congratulating them on the achievement.
Until 2016, recipients received a dish made from real silver. But at a cost of $2.1 million to give 59,000 people their own dish, the government decided last year to swap the real thing out for a cheaper alternative.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- In second consecutive week of decline, forex kitty drops $2.28 bn to $640.33 bn
- SBI Life Q4 profit rises 4% to ₹811 crore
- IMD predicts severe heatwave conditions over East, South Peninsular India for next five days
- COVID lockdown-related school disruptions will continue to worsen students’ exam results into the 2030s: study
- India legend Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market