The median age of the population in Japan has steadily been increasing since 1950 and is projected to be around 47.7 years old in 2020. As of 2021, the median age of Japan is the second highest in the world, behind the Principality of Monaco. The elderly in Japan An improved quality of life and regular health checks are just two reasons why Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. The life expectancy from birth in Japan improved significantly after World War II, rising 20 years in the decade between 1945 and 1955. As life expectancy continues to increase, Japan expects difficulties caring for the older generation in the future. Shortages in the service sector are already a major concern, with demand for nurses and care workers increasing. Fertility and birth rates The fertility rate among Japan’s population has been around 1.4 children per woman since 2010. Apart from a small baby boom in the early seventies, the crude birth rate of Japan has been declining since 1950 and is expected to be as low as 7.5 births per thousand people in 2020. With falling birth rates and such a large share of its inhabitants reaching their later years, Japan’s total population is expected to continue declining.

Over the last decade, Japan’s population has aged more and more, to the point where almost 30 percent of people in Japan were 65 years and older in 2024. Population growth has stopped and even reversed, since it’s been in the red for several years now. It’s getting oldWith almost 30 percent of its population being elderly inhabitants, Japan is considered the “oldest” country in the world today. Japan boasts a high life expectancy, in fact, the Japanese tend to live longer than the average human worldwide. The increase of the aging population is accompanied by a decrease of the total population caused by a sinking birth rate. Japan’s fertility rate has been below the replacement rate for many decades now, mostly due to economic uncertainty and thus a decreasing number of marriages. Are the Japanese invincible?There is no real mystery surrounding the ripe old age of so many Japanese. Their high average age is very likely due to high healthcare standards, nutrition, and an overall high standard of living – all of which could be adopted by other industrial nations as well. But with high age comes less capacity, and Japan’s future enemy might not be an early death, but rather a struggling social network.

Monaco is the country with the highest median age in the world. The population has a median age of around 57.5 years, which is around six years more than in Japan and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the other countries that make up the top three. Southern European countries make up a large part of the top 20, with Italy, Slovenia, Greece, San Marino, Andorra, and Croatia all making the list. Low infant mortality means higher life expectancy Monaco and Japan also have the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, which contributes to the calculation of a higher life expectancy because fewer people are dying in the first years of life. Indeed, many of the nations with a high median age also feature on the list of countries with the highest average life expectancy, such as San Marino, Japan, and Italy. Demographics of islands and small countries Many smaller countries and island nations have populations with a high median age, such as Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which are both island territories within the British Isles. An explanation for this could be that younger people leave to seek work or education opportunities, while others choose to relocate there for retirement.

Retirement Notice: This item is in mature support as of March 2026 and will retire in December 2026. A replacement item has not been identified at this time. Esri recommends updating your maps and apps to phase out use of this item. This map shows average age in Japan in 2020, by Country, Prefecture, Municipality, and Block. The pop-up is configured to show the following information at each geography level:Total populationTotal householdsAverage agePopulation counts by age groupsAverage age by genderThe source of this data is Esri Japan. The vintage is 2020. Additional Esri Resources:Esri DemographicsPermitted use of this data is covered in the DATA section of the Esri Master Agreement (E204CW) and these supplemental terms.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Japan (LFWA64TTJPM647S) from Jan 1970 to Dec 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, Japan, and population.

Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data was reported at 4.844 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.936 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.968 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.438 % in 1974 and a record low of 4.844 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 25 to 29 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Retirement Age Men in Japan remained unchanged at 65 Years in 2026 from 65 Years in 2025. This dataset provides - Japan Retirement Age Men - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Japan JP: Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data was reported at 86,103,674.300 Person in 2027. This records a decrease from the previous number of 86,830,952.817 Person for 2026. Japan JP: Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 97,603,055.874 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2027, with 68 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99,646,204.722 Person in 2000 and a record low of 64,245,345.834 Person in 1960. Japan JP: Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.EO: Labour Force: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. POP1574 - Working-age population, age 15-74 Population data are based on data reported to the OECD Statistics Directorate by member countries via an annual national accounts questionnaire. For the projection period, series are extended using Eurostat projections (EUROPOP2023) for European countries, and United Nations (WPP2022) for other countries. The data is further adjusted by the OECD.

Historical data for Median age of population in Japan from 2020 to 2026

Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): High Birth Rate (HBR): Average Age data was reported at 51.200 NA in 2070. This records a decrease from the previous number of 51.300 NA for 2069. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): High Birth Rate (HBR): Average Age data is updated yearly, averaging 50.700 NA from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2070, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.500 NA in 2064 and a record low of 47.600 NA in 2020. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): High Birth Rate (HBR): Average Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G005: 2023 Population Estimates: 2020 Census: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

The mean age of childbearing in Japan was estimated at **** years in 2023, slightly ** from the previous year. Within the Asian region, Japan showed one of the ******* mean age of childbearing.

In 2023, the average age of persons engaged in farming in Japan stood at **** years. The figure increased significantly throughout the past decade, compared to **** years in 2010. Japan's agricultural workforce is shrinking Japan's aging population and low birth rate have produced a labor shortage in many industries. Since agricultural work is physically demanding and barely profitable and few young people are willing to inherit their parent's farm or enter the sector as newcomers, the number of commercial farm households consequently continues to decrease. The younger generations often prefer to move to metropolitan areas which provide work, convenience, and a modern lifestyle. Further obstacles to the Japanese agricultural sector Its geography complicates agriculture in Japan as the island nation regularly suffers from natural disasters. Typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis cause high damage costs to the agriculture, forestry, and fishery industry every year.Furthermore, only about ** percent of the mountainous archipelago is suitable for cultivation, and the area of cultivated land keeps shrinking as more and more land is used for housing.

Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Low Birth Rate (LBR): Average Age data was reported at 56.600 NA in 2070. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.500 NA for 2069. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Low Birth Rate (LBR): Average Age data is updated yearly, averaging 52.900 NA from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2070, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.600 NA in 2070 and a record low of 47.600 NA in 2020. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Low Birth Rate (LBR): Average Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G005: 2023 Population Estimates: 2020 Census: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

Japan: Dependent people as percent of the working age population: The latest value from 2024 is 70.12 percent, an increase from 70.1 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 58.13 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1960 to 2024 is 51.58 percent. The minimum value, 42.89 percent, was reached in 1992 while the maximum of 70.26 percent was recorded in 2021.

In fiscal year 2021, the average age of enrollees in the medical-care system for the latter-stage elderly in Japan was **** years. The average age has risen slightly compared to **** years old in 2017.

Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Spain and other 14 countries' historical and estimated median ages.

JP: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 27.049 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 26.565 % for 2016. JP: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 11.255 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.049 % in 2017 and a record low of 5.621 % in 1960. JP: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

JP: Population: Male: Ages 55-59: % of Male Population data was reported at 6.139 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.114 % for 2016. JP: Population: Male: Ages 55-59: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.036 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.155 % in 2005 and a record low of 3.755 % in 1975. JP: Population: Male: Ages 55-59: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 55 to 59 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Men and women in Japan are getting married increasingly later than previous generations. In 2024, the average age of women who married for the first time was about **** years, while men were on average **** years old when they first got married. Social integration of women The rising age at first marriage was partly explained by a common theory that holds the growing number of “parasite singles” accountable for the trend. The term refers to young working people aged between 28 and 40 years who decide to keep living comfortably in their parents' homes to save money. An alternative explanation is the more active participation of Japanese women in society. Increasingly more women in Japan obtain higher education degrees and focus on their career paths. With a rising income, they are financially less dependent, and marriage is no longer essential to afford the life they pursue. Delayed family planning The overall number of newly registered marriages has also declined in the past decade. The reported number of marriages was around ******* in 2024, representing the second consecutive year below *******. These developments concerning marriages have also impacted the mean age of childbearing, which has risen considerably since the *****.

In 2025, around **** percent of the population aged 25 to 34 years in Japan were employed. The employment rate of people aged 65 and older increased to ** percent.