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 more than a quarter of Japanese were 65 years and older in 2022. Population growth has stopped and even reversed, since it’s been in the red for several years now.

It’s getting old

With 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.

Retirement Age Men in Japan increased to 65 Years in 2025 from 64 Years in 2024. This dataset provides - Japan Retirement Age Men - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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 Aug 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, Japan, and population.

Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 15-19: % of Female Population data was reported at 4.391 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.426 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 15-19: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.818 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.679 % in 1964 and a record low of 4.391 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 15-19: % 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 15 to 19 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.; ;

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.

This dataset is about countries per year in Japan. It has 64 rows. It features 3 columns: country, and median age.

This scatter chart displays urban population (people) against median age (year) in Japan. The data is about countries per year.

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.

This horizontal bar chart displays median age (year) by countries yearly using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Japan. The data is about countries per year.

This horizontal bar chart displays median age (year) by countries yearly using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Japan. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

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.

As of **************, buses in Japan had an average age of approximately ***** years, increasing to a record age. A decade earlier, the average had been ***** years.

Retirement Age Women in Japan increased to 65 Years in 2025 from 64 Years in 2024. This dataset provides - Japan Retirement Age Women - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Median Birth Rate (MBR): Average Age data was reported at 54.000 NA in 2070. This stayed constant from the previous number of 54.000 NA for 2069. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Median Birth Rate (MBR): Average Age data is updated yearly, averaging 51.900 NA from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2070, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54.000 NA in 2070 and a record low of 47.600 NA in 2020. Japan IPSS: Median Mortality (MM): Median Birth Rate (MBR): 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.

This dataset is about countries per year in Japan. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, life expectancy at birth, and median age.

In 2024, taxi drivers in Japan were on average **** years old. The taxi segment recorded the oldest workforce of the road transportation industry, followed by the bus segment. The entire industry is suffering from a lack of personnel, as long working hours, even for Japanese standards, and low pay do little to attract new employees.

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.

This bar chart displays median age (year) by ISO 3 country code using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Japan. The data is about countries per year.