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Japanese society, public health and sanitation

Demographic changes

Japan has a total population of approx. 127.62 million as of 2003. The figure was merely 35 million in the late 1800s, but reached 64 million in 1930 following the establishment of the foundation of a modern society and resulting in the development of national economy. The dwindling childbearing rate and extended life expectancy have triggered a dramatic rise in the ratio of senior citizens since 1970. The nation was an "aging society' with the proportion of senior citizens (65 years old or older) exceeding 7% in 1970, and became an "aged society" with the ratio in excess of 14% only 24 years later in 1994. As of 2004, the figure has reached 19.5%, significantly greater than the ratio of child citizens (14 years old or younger), now standing at 13.9%(*1). The protracted decline in childbearing is expected to stall the increase in national population in 2006, and cause it to slide down thereafter.

*1:The ratio of senior citizens (65 years or older) and child citizens (14 years old or younger)

[ Japan's population pyramid ] (as of October 1, 2004)

Graph of Japan's population pyramid (as of October 1, 2004)

Source:: "Nihon-no-Tokei 2006" edited by Statistical Research and Training Institute, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, and published by Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

Transition of fertility / mortality rates and changes in the national disease structure

Japanese fertility and mortality trends shifted from the post-war period of high births / low deaths to the phase of low births / low deaths in the late 1950s, and generally stabilized through to around 1975. Since then, however, there has been a characteristically low rate of fertility for over 20 years.

The national total fertility rate (TFR) was at 3.65 in 1950, but took a nosedive to around 2.0 in the ensuing decade to the late 1950s. The progress in newborn medical care resulted in the decline in infant mortality rate. The increased survival rate of young children proliferated birth control behaviors throughout the society. TFR in 2005 was as low as 1.26(*2), which has been attributed mainly to the trend toward late or no marriage, as more women gain high academic qualifications and pursue working careers. Another trend is married couples delaying or refraining from starting a family.

Meanwhile, the average life expectancy is on the increase. The 2005 figures defined Japan as the longevity leader of the world, with the average male and female life expectancies climbing to 78.53 and 85.5(*3) respectively. The graying of the population has also shifted the national main ailments from infectious diseases to lifestyle diseases. Today, over 60% of deaths are caused by the top three mortality causes of "malignant tumors", "heart diseases" and "cerebravascular diseases".

*2:Total Fertility Rate for 2005
*3:The average life expectancies for 2005