{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1946363,
        "msgid": "births-in-japan-rise-0-8-percent-first-increase-in-11-years-1787925254",
        "date": "2026-08-28 20:09:06",
        "title": "Births in Japan rise 0.8 percent, first increase in 11 years",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Japan recorded a 0.8 percent rise in births during the first half of 2026, the first January\u2013June increase in 11 years, according to health ministry data. The uptick follows two consecutive years of rising marriages, though long-term projections still point to a declining birth trend. Policymakers continue to face pressure to expand support for marriage and child-rearing amid a shrinking reproductive-age population.",
        "content": "<p>The number of babies born in Japan during the first six months of\n2026 increased 0.8 percent compared with the same period a year earlier\nto 342,068, marking the first rise for the January\u2013June period in 11\nyears, according to data from Japan\u2019s Ministry of Health, Labour and\nWelfare released on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The figure includes births to foreign nationals and was up by 2,788\nbirths compared with the same period in 2025, based on data released by\nthe ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Japan has seen a decline in the number of births since 1973, when\n2.09 million babies were born during the country\u2019s second baby boom.<\/p>\n<p>The latest increase in births came after the number of marriages\npicked up again in 2024 and 2025, one of the key factors influencing the\nbirth rate.<\/p>\n<p>The number of marriages in 2025, including those involving foreign\nnationals, rose 1.1 percent from the previous year to around 505,000,\nmarking a year-on-year increase for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n<p>In the first half of 2026, the number of couples marrying rose 0.2\npercent compared with the same period a year earlier to 238,979.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, a number of projections indicate that the number of\nbirths will remain on a long-term downward trend due to the shrinking\nreproductive-age population in Japan and the growing number of people\ndelaying or choosing not to marry.<\/p>\n<p>The number of births increased in 26 prefectures, with Tokyo\nrecording the largest rise of 2,278 births, followed by Aichi with 517\nand Fukuoka with 438. Among the 21 other prefectures that saw declines,\nIshikawa Prefecture recorded the largest drop of 360 births.<\/p>\n<p>During the six-month period from January, the number of deaths fell\n6.9 percent to 778,982, leaving a natural population decline of\n436,914.<\/p>\n<p>The number of births in 2025 fell to around 705,000, marking a record\nlow for the tenth consecutive year and prompting calls for expanded\nsupport for people who wish to marry and have children.<\/p>\n<p>The population decline could threaten the sustainability of\nbusinesses and public services due to labour shortages and a shrinking\nconsumer base. The trend could also have a serious impact on the social\nsecurity system, including healthcare and pensions.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/births-in-japan-rise-0-8-percent-first-increase-in-11-years-1787925254",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}