The study highlights concerns about the dwindling population in Japan, particularly among women of childbearing age. This decline has prompted the PSC to identify 744 municipalities that are at high risk of disappearing due to the lack of new generations to sustain their communities. The study also notes that although foreign immigration has helped to mitigate the risk to some extent, the overall low birthrate trend remains a serious issue that requires urgent attention from policymakers.
The PSC emphasizes the need for municipalities to prioritize measures aimed at boosting birthrates rather than solely focusing on preventing population outflows to urban areas. Additionally, the report stresses that neighboring cities and towns should collaborate to attract and retain a younger population, rather than engaging in competitive efforts that do not contribute to overall population growth.
The Tohoku region has the highest number of municipalities at risk, while the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, has 91 at-risk municipalities and 21 “blackhole municipalities” characterized by extremely low birthrates and heavy reliance on population inflows. The PSC urges each municipality to address its unique challenges and implement appropriate measures to mitigate population decline and its associated social and economic impacts.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his commitment to tackling Japan’s aging population and declining birth rates. In response, the government has established a new Children and Families Agency to oversee policies related to children and families. However, despite these efforts, the number of newborns continues to decline, highlighting the need for further measures to address this critical issue and secure Japan’s future prosperity.
