1st-Half Births in Japan Rise for 1st Time in 11 Years

For the first time in 11 years, births in Japan increased during the first half of the year, according to health ministry data released on Friday. The preliminary figures indicate a modest rise of 2,788 births, or 0.8%, compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 342,068. However, this still falls short of the 400,000 milestone for the fifth consecutive year.

The upward trend may be attributed to increased marriages in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, the number of births by Japanese nationals in Japan reached a record low of 671,236, marking the 10th consecutive year of decline. The decrease in the number of births slowed to 2.2%, down from around 5% since 2022. Meanwhile, the number of marriages grew by 418 to 238,979 during the first six months of the year, while divorces fell by 3,578 to 90,177.

The overall natural decrease in population, calculated as deaths minus births, amounted to 436,914. The preliminary data encompasses births by foreigners in Japan and those by Japanese nationals residing abroad. Finalized data, expected to be released later, will only include births by Japanese nationals living in the country. Since 1975, the annual number of births in Japan has been declining, dipping below 1 million in 2016 and falling below 700,000 in 2024.