Japan’s Falling Birth Rate

Cartogram: population

Age Structure Diagram (Population Pyramid)

Japan Age Structure Diagram (Population Pyramid)

Japan: females 2005 What age group has the most females? What age group has the fewest?

What is the recent pattern in Japan’s population growth?

Japan Age Structure Diagram (Population Pyramid)

What impact on society could result from a falling birth rate?

Q2: What worries do you feel regarding declining birth rates? (Sample size=15,495, multiple answer) Tax, medical fees will increase64.9% Pension payments will increase56.0% As working population decreases, the economy will stagnate 49.2% Society in general will lose its vitality45.5% Nursing staff will decrease37.5% Culture, techniques will not be handed down to the next generation 30.2% Foreign workers will increased17.7% Other4.7% Don’t feel any worries8.3%

If the government wants to stabilize the birth rate (to at least replacement level), what might they do?

Late marriage, not marrying56.5% Women’s work patterns, lifestyle changes56.4% No financial breathing space55.2% Government child-rearing measures, support are not functioning 49.3% More people are putting personal lifestyle ahead of marriage, child-rearing 47.3% Education costs are high46.4% Social child-rearing support systems are not functioning42.5% More and more people feel mentally unprepared to handle child-rearing 36.1% Corporate child-rearing support systems are not functioning 35.1% Home circumstances are poor16.2% Q3: What do you think is the cause of the declining birth rates? (Sample size=15,495, multiple answer)