2024-04-12T13:20:16+00:00
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/ A Japanese research institute reported on Friday that Japan is considered one of the most aging countries in the world, with the elderly (65 years and above) making up more than 29% of the total population.
This phenomenon is attributed to low birth rates and high life expectancy, and the aging population casts a shadow over various aspects of life in Japan, from the economy to society to health care.
The Japanese government research institute said that the number of elderly people living alone in Japan is likely to jump 47% by 2050, highlighting the heavy burden that demographic changes in the country will impose on the social insurance system.
The number of single-person households is expected to reach 23.3 million in 2050, representing 44.3% of total households.
This would be higher than the 38% recorded in 2020, the National Institute for Population and Social Security Research said.
The institute’s estimates showed that among single-person households, seniors aged 65 and over are likely to represent 46.5% in 2050, compared to 34.9% in 2020.
Japan, one of the most developed countries with a large number of elderly people, has witnessed a continuous decline in the number of marriages in recent decades, as the economic recession affects the younger generations more than others. The Covid-19 pandemic has also presented an obstacle to people meeting and marrying potential partners.
Nearly a third of men in their 50s living in Tokyo have never been married, while data collected by Recruit Holdings shows that 46% of men and 30% of women in their 20s in Japan have never been in a romantic relationship.