The number of newborns in Japan in 2020 is expected to drop significantly from 2019, a record low for the fifth consecutive year.
Kyodo News reported on the 24th, citing government sources, that the number of newborns in 2020 is expected to be approximately 845,000, lower than the approximately 865,000 in 2019.
Preliminary data shows that the number of newborns from January to August 2020 is 580,000, a decrease of 2.3% from the same period last year. The number of pregnant women also decreased in the first half of 2020. This data is used to estimate the number of newborns between September and December.
A source believes that the reason for the sharp drop in the number of newborns this year is related to the new crown epidemic. “Due to the new crown epidemic, public concerns about the economic outlook may continue to have a negative impact (on the birth rate),” the source said. “The number of newborns may be less than 800,000 next year.”
Low birth rate and serious aging are the main social problems facing Japan, affecting many aspects such as pensions and medical care. The number of newborns in Japan fell below 1 million for the first time in 2016.
Kyodo News reported that factors contributing to the decline in the birth rate include more and more people choosing not to marry or marry late.
