The number of children in Japan has fallen to another record low, a stark reminder of the demographic challenges the country faces weighs on The second largest economy in Asia.
The number of children ages 14 or younger fell for the 43rd straight year to about 14.01 million as of April 1, according to Data From the Ministry of Interior and Communications. The proportion of children in Japan's total population fell to 11.3%, also an all-time low.
Japan's overall population has been declining steadily since around 2010, leading to a chronic labor shortage, while the country's aging population is putting pressure on the country's medical and social care expenditures.
The situation is expected to worsen, as is the case in Japan The birth rateIt is one of the lowest rates in the world and still well below the replacement rate.