TOKYO: Due to the country’s rapidly aging population, more than 10 % of Japanese citizens have crossed the age of 80 or older for the first time, according to new official data.
Prior to Monday’s Respect for Aged Day national holiday, government data released on Sunday( Sep 17 ) also revealed that the proportion of people in Japan who are 65 or older increased to a record 29.1 % from 29 % the previous year.
According to the internal affairs ministry, the level was higher than that of second-ranked Italy, which scored 24.5 %, and third-placed Finland, who scored 23.6 %.
According to a media release from the government, Japan has the highest proportion of older people worldwide.
Japan has seen its inhabitants decline and age for years as younger people put off getting married and having children, mainly as a result of unpredictable jobs and economic conditions.
As a result, Japan’s elder care costs have skyrocketed because there aren’t enough young people to fill employment and pay for various social and welfare programs.
According to the government, Japan’s 124.4 million baby boomers are getting older and 75 or older.
According to the report, 12.59 million persons are 80 years of age or older, and 20 million are 75 years and older.
Japan is relying on an old labor power as a result.
In Japan, one in seven staff, or 13.6 percent of the men, are aged over 9 million.
Less than South Korea’s 36.2 % of elderly people in Japan work, but far ahead of other developing nations like the United States at 18.6 % and France at 3.9 percent.
According to the statistics, more than a second of people between the ages of 70 and 74 work in Japan.
It is anticipated that by 2040, the older population of Japan will make up 34.8 % of the total population.