Japan is once again facing a bitter reality regarding the population crisis. The Japanese government reported that the number of children in the Sakura State had shrunk to 13.29 million as of April 1, 2026. This figure marks a new record low since records began.
Based on data from the Japanese Ministry of the Interior and Communications released Monday (4/5/2026), there was a decrease of 350,000 people compared to the previous year. This phenomenon emphasizes the heavy challenge for the world's third largest economy.
Lowest Child Ratio Since 1950
The ratio of children under the age of 15 now only covers 10.8 percent of Japan's total population. This is the lowest point since comparable data was first released in 1950.
The data covering foreign residents shows a downward trend:
Total Children: 13.29 million. Male Children: 6.81 million. Female Children: 6.48 million. Age Group: Children aged 12-14 years old numbered 3.09 million, while toddlers aged 0-2 years only numbered 2.13 million.Government Initiative Failure?
Although the Japanese government has designated the period up to 2030 as the "last chance" to reverse the declining birth rate, the results have not been seen as significant. The program to expand financial support for families has not been able to stem the decline that has taken place for 45 consecutive years.
In 2025 alone, the number of births in Japan fell to 705,809, which is a 10-year consecutive decline according to data from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
Global comparison: Japan vs South Korea
Japan now ranks second as the country with the lowest child ratio in the world among 38 countries with a population of at least 40 million.
The only country with more critical conditions is South Korea, which recorded a child ratio of only 10.2 percent of its total population. For comparison, Japan's peak child population reached 29.89 million people in 1954.
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