Japan population shrinks by one million census confirms

New census figures in Japan show the population
has shrunk by nearly one million in the past five
years, in the first decline registered since 1920.
As of October last year the country has 127.1
million people, 0.7% fewer than in the last census.
Demographers have long predicted a drop, citing
Japan's falling birth rate and a lack of immigration.
The rapidly ageing population has contributed to a
stagnating economy and worries of increasing
health costs.
Sharp drop-offs
Japan now has 947,000 fewer people than when the
last census was conducted in 2010, figures released
by the internal affairs ministry show.
Only eight prefectures, including the capital Tokyo,
saw a population increase, national broadcaster
NHK. reported.
The remaining 39 all saw declines, including
Fukushima which saw the largest drop of 115,000
people.
Fukushima, site of the doomed nuclear power
station, was hit especially badly by the 2011
earthquake and tsunami.
Japan has seen population growth for much of the
past century, but this has been slowing rapidly in
recent decades. The last census showed the
population had completely stopped growing.
Friday's numbers mark the first time a decline has
been recorded in the census.
Researchers are predicting a sharp drop-off in the
working population and a simultaneous rise in the
number of elderly in coming decades.
According to government projections, by 2060 about
40% of its citizens will be sixty-five or older, and
the general population will be one-third smaller
than it is now.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it a priority to
boost the birthrate from 1.4 children to 1.8 children
per woman, including improving childcare and tax
incentives. Advanced economies usually require a
rate of at least 2.1 for a stable population.