2023 sees Japan's fertility rate drop to a record low of 1.2, marking the eighth consecutive decline.

Japan's fertility rate drops to a record low of 1.2 in 2023, marking the eighth consecutive decline and highlighting the challenges faced by the world's most elderly country. The figure, indicating the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime, reached a record low last year, with the total number of births decreasing by 5.6% to 727,277. This is the 17th consecutive year that the number of deaths has exceeded the number of births, resulting in a natural decline in population. The government is considering radical measures, such as expanding child allowances and parental leave, to address the issue.