Japan centenarian population surpasses 100,000 for first time as demographic decline deepens

Centenarian milestone

Japan's population of centenarians has exceeded 100,000 for the first time since record-keeping began in 1963. According to data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, the country has 107,677 residents aged 100 or older as of September 2026. The figure represents an increase of 8,000 individuals compared to the previous year and marks the 56th consecutive annual rise. Women constitute 88% of this demographic, accounting for 94,298 people. The oldest woman in the country is Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, while the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, aged 112, from Kumamoto. United Nations estimates place the global centenarian population at roughly 672,000, leaving Japan with the highest national total worldwide.

Longevity and daily life

Japanese health authorities and researchers point to several lifestyle factors behind the country's extended lifespans. Daily diets heavily emphasize fish, vegetables, and rice while remaining comparatively low in saturated fat. Routine physical activities such as walking, cycling, stretching, and using public transit remain common among older adults. In leisure, centenarians engage in activities including ground golf and karaoke, while television producer Fukuko Ishii continued working after turning 100 this month. The nation's health minister reacted positively to the longevity data while presenting the annual figures.

I am delighted that so many people are living long, healthy and active lives.

Demographic imbalance

The expansion of the centenarian group stands in contrast with a broader decline in Japan's total population. The domestic population stood at 119.19 million on 1 January 2026, falling below the 120 million threshold for the first time since 1984. During the preceding annual cycle, deaths reached roughly 1.59 million while births dropped to about 671,000, creating a natural population decrease of 920,000 people. The fertility rate fell to 1.14 children per woman in 2025, falling for a tenth consecutive year and remaining far below the replacement level of 2.1. Foreign residents now exceed 4 million (3.26% of the population), a growing figure that nonetheless fails to offset the demographic contraction.

Economic and social pressure

With a median age of 49.9 years, Japan holds the world's second-oldest population after Monaco, based on World Bank data. Around 30% of Japanese residents are aged 65 or older, a share that the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projects will approach 40% by 2070 as total population falls toward 87 million. Approximately 40 million residents currently receive public pensions, straining social security financing as the working-age tax base contracts. Government ministries requested a combined 143 trillion yen (800 billion euros) for the 2027 national budget, driven largely by welfare and healthcare obligations. Prime Minister Sanae Takichi described the long-term demographic slide as a "silent emergency" for the fourth-largest global economy. Commercial markets have adjusted to these changes, with adult diaper sales outpacing infant diaper sales for more than a decade and manufacturers producing powered mobility exoskeletons alongside autofocusing eyewear.