Tue Sep 17 06:10:51 UTC 2024: ## Japan’s Centenarian Population Reaches Record High, Raising Concerns Over Aging Society
**Tokyo, Japan -** Japan has recorded a record number of centenarians, with over 95,000 people aged 100 or older as of September 1st, 2024. This figure represents a 2,980 increase year-on-year and highlights the rapid aging of the nation’s population.
Remarkably, almost 90% of these centenarians are women. The number of over-65s has also hit a record high of 36.25 million, constituting 29.3% of Japan’s total population. This puts Japan at the top of a list of 200 countries and regions with a population over 100,000 people for the highest proportion of elderly citizens.
Japan is also home to the world’s oldest living person, Tomiko Itooka, who turned 116 on May 23rd, 2024. Ms. Itooka resides in a nursing home in Ashiya, western Japan, where she frequently expresses gratitude to the staff and nostalgia for her hometown.
The government is grappling with a steadily worsening demographic crisis as the expanding elderly population drives up medical and welfare costs, while the shrinking workforce struggles to meet these demands. Despite efforts to address the issue, the overall population continues to decline, shrinking by 595,000 year-on-year.
While the government has attempted to slow the population decline and aging through various measures, including extending the retirement age to 65 for all employers from fiscal year 2025, the increasing number of centenarians underscores the urgency of the situation. The record number of centenarians, along with the aging population overall, presents a significant challenge for Japan, demanding innovative solutions to navigate the complexities of an increasingly aging society.
First Piper 