Japan's interior ministry has said one in ten Japanese is 80 years or older. It is the first time that 10 per cent of Japan's population is above 80. The report was released to mark the annual Respect for the Aged Day as Japan tackles persistent low birthrates.
Japan is the oldest country-- as per government data, the share of Japan's population at 65 or older expanded to a record 29.1 per cent from 29.0 per cent a year ago, AFP reported. Italy ranked second with 24. 5 per cent and Finland ranked third with 23.6 per cent.
For decades, the population of Japan has been shrinking. The young have been delaying marriage and having children due to unstable jobs and economic difficulties.
In Japan, there aren't enough young people to fill jobs and pay for various social and welfare programmes. Their 124.4 million people continue to grow older. Japan is relying on an elderly labour force.
According to data, more than a third of people between 70 to 74 have jobs in Japan. The number of babies born in Japan fell lower than 800,000 in 2022, for the first time since records began in the 19th century.
China's population started to shrink in 2022, for the first time in 60 years and South Korea is expected to take over as the world's greyest nation in the coming decades.
