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.

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.; ;

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 2022, the average life expectancy of women in Japan was approximately **** years, whereas the life expectancy of men reached around **** years. The average life expectancy of both men and women in Japan indicated a ******** for two consecutive years. Aging workforce Japan has one of the highest proportions of senior citizens worldwide, with almost ** percent of the country’s population aged 65 years and older. The growing average life expectancy and declining fertility rates led to this demographic shift. To secure the nation's workforce despite the aging population, the Japanese government amended the Act on Stabilization of Employment of Elderly Persons in 2021 and requested Japanese enterprises to raise the retirement age to 70 for employees who wish to continue working after turning 60 or 65. Causes of death The leading causes of death in Japan are *****************************************************************. Lung cancer is the most mortal cancer site among Japanese men and women, but its mortality risk has declined from the 1990s onward. This development can be partially attributed to the downward trend in tobacco consumption. Since peaking in the 1970s, tobacco consumption in Japan has steadily declined, noticeable from the continuous decrease in the cigarette industry’s annual sales volume growth. Apart from a growing awareness regarding health risks, this downward movement can be explained by a tightening of prefectural no-smoking policies in the streets, many restaurants, and public places in general.

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.

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

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 scatter chart displays urban population (people) against median age (year) 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: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2023 is 29.56 percent, an increase from 29.4 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 10.17 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1960 to 2023 is 15.14 percent. The minimum value, 5.74 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 29.56 percent was recorded in 2023.

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.

As of **************, passenger cars in Japan had an average age of approximately **** years. Over the past decade, the average age of passenger cars increased steadily, hinting at improved durability of vehicles owned in Japan. The Japanese automobile landscape The Japanese automotive industry developed rapidly during the 'economic miracle' post-World War II, making the country one of the largest motor vehicle producers in the world. While international competition within the automobile sector is tight, Japanese engineering is highly valued in its home market and abroad. Domestically produced cars are primarily exported to North America, whereas imported passenger cars arrive predominantly from Europe, followed by imports from Africa and other Asian regions. Domestic passenger car usage Japan’s usage rate of passenger cars was much higher among car owners from rural regions compared to those living in the country’s metropolitan areas, such as Tokyo or Osaka. Due to rising environmental awareness, green vehicle technologies, and car-sharing services that started to pick up in Japan, a new approach to vehicle usage and purchase behavior has likely been sparked.

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 JP: Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data was reported at 86,797,720.144 Person in 2026. This records a decrease from the previous number of 87,636,645.464 Person for 2025. Japan JP: Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 91,707,366.827 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2026, with 67 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.

Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data was reported at 2,436,785.000 Person in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,586,167.000 Person for 2010. Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 4,070,469.500 Person from Dec 1920 (Median) to 2015, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,558,029.000 Person in 1950 and a record low of 2,436,785.000 Person in 2015. Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.

This dataset displays data from the 2005 Census of Japan. It displays population by age, selected age ranges, percentages of age ranges, average average, and median age in the selected prefectures in Japan. Only 30 of the 47 prectures were displayed in the data source. There are also 2 other datasets that break this data up by male and female figures. This data comes from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication's Statistics Bureau.

This scatter chart displays median age (year) against life expectancy at birth (year) in Japan. The data is about countries per year.