Japan’s birth rate rose for the first half of the year for the first time in over a decade
More babies follow two consecutive years of more marriages. Japan’s population has been shrinking for a long time, as fewer couples have children, and those that do have kids have fewer than generations past. But for the first time in more than a decade, there’s been an increase in the numbers of babies born in […]
Japan's birth rate has increased for the first half of 2026 for the first time in over a decade, according to the country's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In January to June of 2026, 342,068 babies were born, marking a 2,788-baby increase compared to the same period in 2025. While this represents a modest 0.8 percent rise, it signifies a significant reversal of a 10-year downward trend in Japan's birth rates.
The last time Japan saw an uptick in births during this time frame was back in 2015. The increase in first-half births follows two years of more marriages, with more couples getting married in 2025 and 2024 than the previous year. Currently, Japan is on track for a third consecutive year of increases in marriages, with 238,979 marriages recorded in the first half of 2026, which is 0.2 percent higher than the same period last year.
However, Japan's population is still shrinking, as there were 339,280 births this year, still fewer than the 778,982 deaths. Despite the small increase, any birth rate rise in Japan is a rare and encouraging occurrence.
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