Last updated on September 25th, 2026 at 09:44 am
Japan’s Elderly Population Reaches Record 29.6%, Highest Among Major Nations
Japan’s population aged 65 and over has reached a new record, with elderly people now accounting for 29.6 percent of the country’s total population, according to figures released by the Japanese government ahead of Respect for the Aged Day.
The latest estimate shows that 36.24 million people in Japan are aged 65 or older. That figure increased by 20,000 from the previous year, even as Japan’s overall population continues to decline.
The figures underline the scale of Japan’s demographic transformation and its position as the country with the highest proportion of elderly people among nations with populations of more than 40 million.
Nearly Three in Every 10 People Are Aged 65 or Older
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications released the figures on September 20, one day before Japan’s Respect for the Aged Day. The proportion of people aged 65 or older reached 29.6 percent, exceeding the previous year’s figure of 29.4 percent.
The total elderly population of 36.24 million consists of 15.71 million men and 20.54 million women. The figures demonstrate the continuing importance of older people within Japanese society, both in demographic terms and in the workforce.
The latest percentage represents another record for Japan. Government statistics show that the proportion of people aged 65 and over has risen steadily over the long term as the country has experienced declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy.
For comparison, official Japanese statistics put the elderly share at 29.3 percent as of October 2024. The new estimate therefore represents a further increase in the proportion of the population belonging to the 65-and-over age group.
Japan Remains at the Top Internationally
Japan’s demographic situation is particularly notable when compared with other large developed countries. Among 39 countries with populations of at least 40 million, Japan has the highest proportion of residents aged 65 or older.
Italy has the second-highest proportion, with people aged 65 and over accounting for 25.6 percent of its population. Germany follows at 24.2 percent, while France records 22.9 percent.
The difference between Japan and the other countries illustrates how pronounced the country’s ageing trend has become. Almost three out of every 10 people living in Japan are now at least 65 years old.
The Japanese government’s comparison uses countries with populations of 40 million or more, rather than every country in the world. That distinction is important because countries with smaller populations can have different demographic structures and are not included in this particular comparison.
The Number of People Aged 75 and Over Is Also Rising
The ageing trend becomes even more pronounced when the population aged 75 and over is considered. People in this age group account for 17.7 percent of Japan’s total population.
That proportion is also the highest among nine major countries examined in the government comparison. Italy follows Japan at 13.3 percent for the share of its population aged 75 and over.
Japan’s large population of people aged 75 and over reflects the continuing movement of earlier generations into older age groups. It also means that the country’s ageing population is not simply a result of a growing number of people entering their 60s.
A substantial and increasing part of Japan’s population is now in the 75-and-over category, creating additional demographic consequences for healthcare, social security, employment and the provision of services for older residents.
Japan’s Working Population Has Also Been Changing
The ageing of the population is taking place alongside a long-term reduction in the number of people in the traditional working-age population. Japanese government statistics show that the population aged between 15 and 64 has declined significantly from its previous peak.
At the same time, the number of older people who remain in employment has continued to rise. According to the Statistics Bureau, 9.43 million people aged 65 or older were employed, marking the 22nd consecutive year in which the number increased.
People aged 65 and over accounted for 13.8 percent of all employed people, another record in the government’s latest statistics. Employment rates for individual older age groups also reached record levels.
The figures show that the elderly population should not be viewed simply as a group that has left the labour market. Many older Japanese people continue to work, contributing to businesses and the wider economy after reaching the traditional retirement age.
Population Decline Makes the Proportion More Significant
Japan’s record elderly percentage is occurring against the background of a shrinking overall population. The number of people aged 65 and over increased slightly in the latest figures, while Japan continues to face a longer-term decline in its total population.
This combination means that older people represent an increasingly large share of the population. Even relatively small changes in the number of elderly residents can therefore produce a noticeable change in their percentage of the total population.
Japan has experienced this demographic shift over several decades. The proportion of people aged 65 and over was less than 5 percent of the population in 1950. It subsequently passed 7 percent in 1970 and exceeded 14 percent in 1994 before continuing to rise.
The transformation has changed the structure of Japanese society. The country now has a much smaller proportion of children and working-age adults relative to its elderly population than it did during the decades when Japan experienced rapid economic growth.
The Ageing Trend Is Expected to Continue
The latest record is not expected to represent the end of Japan’s ageing trend. Demographic projections indicate that the number of people aged 65 and over will increase further in the coming decades as large generations move into older age.
According to projections from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Japan’s elderly population is expected to reach approximately 39.45 million by 2045.
At that point, people aged 65 and over are projected to account for 36.3 percent of the total population. That would mean more than one in three people in Japan would be at least 65 years old.
The projected increase is linked in particular to the ageing of Japan’s second baby-boom generation, born between 1971 and 1974. As this large generation moves into older age groups, the structure of the population is expected to change further.
What the Figures Mean for Japanese Society
The continuing rise in the elderly population has implications across many parts of Japanese society. Healthcare services, pensions, social care and housing are among the areas affected by changes in the age structure of the population.
Businesses are also adapting to an older population. Older consumers represent a substantial part of the domestic market, while employers increasingly rely on people who continue working beyond the ages traditionally associated with retirement.
The demographic shift also has consequences for communities. As younger generations become a smaller proportion of the population, some areas face difficulties maintaining local services and sustaining communities with fewer working-age residents.
At the same time, the figures do not mean that every person aged 65 or over has the same circumstances. The elderly population includes people who are still working, people who have retired, and people with very different levels of health, income and independence.
A Record That Reflects Decades of Demographic Change
Japan’s latest figure of 29.6 percent therefore represents more than another annual population statistic. It reflects decades of falling birth rates, longer lifespans and changes in the size of successive generations.
With 36.24 million people now aged 65 or older, the country has reached another milestone in its transition towards an older population. The fact that Japan remains at the top of the international comparison also demonstrates how unusually advanced that transition is compared with other major economies.
The Japanese government’s latest statistics show that the trend is continuing rather than reversing. The elderly population has reached another record, the share of people aged 75 and over remains exceptionally high, and projections indicate that the proportion of older residents will rise further in the decades ahead.
For Japan, the challenge will be managing the consequences of this changing population structure while making use of the experience and continuing economic contribution of its older residents. With nearly 30 percent of the population already aged 65 or older, population ageing has become a defining feature of modern Japanese society.
