Japan's centenarian population tops 100,000 for the first time

The number of people in Japan aged 100 or above has surpassed 100,000 for the first time. As of 1 September 2026, the figure rose by 7,914 compared with a year earlier, local media reported on Tuesday.

This brings the total number of residents aged 100 or above in the country to 107,677, marking the 56th consecutive annual increase, according to Kyodo News, citing data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Women make up 87.6 per cent of all Japanese residents aged 100 or above.

According to Kyodo, a further 54,294 people are expected to turn 100 during the 2026 fiscal year, an increase of 1,984 from the previous year.

Japan has an average of 87.51 residents aged 100 or above for every 100,000 people.

Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old Kyoto resident born on 20 December 1911, is the oldest woman in Japan, while Hikaru Kato, a 112-year-old Kumamoto resident born on 2 May 1914, is the country’s oldest man.

Japan had only 153 residents aged 100 or above in 1963, when record-keeping began. The number exceeded 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012.

Average life expectancy in Japan in 2025 reached 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men.