Births Turn Upward in 5 Years in Japan

Japan is gradually losing her population, so it's been said for some time. But the latest data show Japan's births rose momentarily in 2015 - an increase of 4,000 over the previous year to 1.08 million, according to the Ministry of Welfare, December 31. Mortality, however, was the highest in the postwar years at 1.302 million - meaning Japan's population is dropping all the same.

Back to the sunny side of the statistics, the number of babies born in Japan is up among the young mothers in their 30's thanks perhaps to better employment environment and upgraded nursery services. The number, however, is the second lowest in the past. The overall number of marriages, however, was down by 9,000 to 635 thousand in 2015 - the lowest in the postwar years. In fact, the downturn trend has consistently continued since the peak time in early 1970's due to a decrease in the population of marriageable people.

A total of 1.32 million deceased in 2015, or 29 thousand over 2014, the highest in the postwar years. The rate of natural population decrease is the highest ever at 29.4 thousand - population dropping for 9 years in a row. The statistics show 370 thousand died of cancer, 199 thousand of heart diseases, 113 thousand of cerebrovascular diseases in that order. The top four claimed 60% of  the deaths. The stillborn numbered 23 thousand, 1000 less than the previous year.

The newlyweds numbered 9000 less than the previous year at 63.5 thousand.

A total of 225 thousand couples divorced in 2015 - 3,000 more than in the previous year. The number was up to 289,836 in 2002 but fell over the years but it slightly rose again in 2015 for the first time in 6 years.