For the first time in 42 years, Japan's native population has dipped below 120 million or 12 crore, underscoring the country's worsening demographic crisis.
Government data released Wednesday showed the number of Japanese residents stood at 119.74 million as of January 1, down 0.76% from the previous year.
The decline marks the 17th consecutive year of shrinking numbers since the population peaked in 2009. Meanwhile, foreign residents have reached record highs, pushing the total population to 123.8 million. With a median age of 49.9 years, Japan now has the world's second-oldest population after Monaco.
Fertility rates continue to slide, dropping to a record low of 1.14 in 2025, the tenth straight year of decline. Births fell by nearly 15,000 to just over 670,000, the lowest since records began in 1899. The fallout is already visible: labour shortages, rising social security costs, and a shrinking tax base.
Amid the gloom, Tokyo's AI-powered matchmaking app Enmusubi has offered a rare glimmer of hope. Since its launch in 2024, it has registered 16,000 members, leading to 760 serious relationships and 265 marriages. Yet experts warn such initiatives are only a small step against Japan's deep-rooted demographic challenges.