Government data released this week confirmed that Japan has crossed the 100,000 threshold for people aged 100 or older, reaching a total of 107,677 centenarians. The figure represents a jump of 7,914 compared with the previous year and marks the 56th consecutive annual increase. Women dominate the group, accounting for roughly 88 % of those celebrated on Respect for the Aged Day when the prime minister presents a congratulatory letter and a silver sake cup to the nation’s oldest citizens.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno praised the milestone, attributing it to advances in medical technology, widespread health screenings, and a diet rich in fish and vegetables. While the achievement underscores improvements in longevity, officials also warned that a rapidly aging and shrinking population will pressure the social security system and public finances.
Centenarian surge reaches 107,677
The latest tally places 107,677 individuals in the centenarian bracket, up from 99,763 the year before. The upward trend began modestly in 1963 with just 153 people over 100, crossed the 1,000-mark in 1981 and exceeded 10,000 in 1998. Among this year’s spotlighted elders, 114-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto earned the title of oldest Japanese woman, while 112-year-old Hikaru Kato of Kumamoto holds the record for the nation’s oldest man.
Why Japan’s population is simultaneously aging and shrinking
Japan already has one of the world’s most aged societies: nearly three out of ten residents are 65 or older, a share projected to approach 40 % by 2070. At the same time, the total fertility rate dropped to a record low of 1.14 in 2025, far below the 2.1 children per woman needed to keep the population stable. Last year, only about 700,000 babies were born, while more than 800,000 people were aged 95 or older. Preliminary census figures show that 45 of the 47 prefectures recorded a population decline in 2025, with Tokyo and Okinawa as the lone exceptions.
Economic and social challenges posed by the demographic shift
The growing proportion of seniors raises the cost of pensions, health care, and elder-care services, while a shrinking workforce means fewer taxpayers to fund those programs. Industries ranging from construction to agriculture report acute labor shortages, especially in rural areas where younger residents migrate to urban centers. The government has responded with child allowances, subsidised childcare, and expanded parental-leave schemes, yet birth numbers remain stubbornly low.
Government response and youth attitudes
A recent survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research found that more than one-fifth of single adults aged 18-34 have no intention of marrying, and nearly half see no advantage in marriage at all. Officials link this reluctance to the high costs of child-rearing, insecure employment, and the physical and mental strain on working parents. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has framed the demographic decline as a “major national challenge,” and Health Minister Ueno reiterated the need to protect the sustainability of the social security system while encouraging healthier, longer lives.
