Japanese births at new low as population ages

TOKYO – The number of babies born in Japan this year is below last year’s record low in what the top government spokesman described as a “critical situation.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno promised comprehensive measures to encourage more marriages and births.

The total of 599,636 Japanese born in January-September was 4.9% below last year’s figure, suggesting the number of births in all of 2022 might fall below last year’s record low of 811,000 babies, he said.

Japan is the world’s third biggest economy, but living costs are high and wage increases have been slow. The conservative government has lagged on making society more inclusive for children, women and minorities.

Government efforts to encourage people to have more babies have had limited impact despite subsidies for pregnancy, childbirth and child care. Younger Japanese have balked at marrying or having families, discouraged by bleak job prospects, onerous commutes and corporate cultures incompatible with having both parents work.