Japan's Birthrate Drops Further

According to vital statistics announced by the Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on June 5, 2003, the number of births in Japan in 2002 was 1,153,866, the lowest number since record-keeping began in 1899. This was a decrease of 16,796 from the preceding year.

The average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, or total fertility rate, fell to 1.32 from 1.33 in 2001, which had been the record low for the postwar period. Looking at the mothers' age bracket, the number of births dropped sharply among women in their late 20s. Meantime, the average age of first delivery rose to 28.3 years, or a 0.1 year increase from the 2001 level.

The figure for natural increase, that is births minus deaths, was 171,495, decreasing by 28,836 from 200,331 in 2001. The natural increase rate per 1,000 population declined to 1.4 from 1.6 in the previous year. Both the net natural increase and its rate were the lowest since 1899. Deaths exceeded births in 16 out of Japan's 47 prefectures.



Posted: 2003/07/31 11:02:19 AM
Japanese version