(Getty Photographs)
The variety of folks in Japan aged 65 or older hit a report excessive of 36.25 million this yr, authorities information reveals, because the nation contends with one of many world’s fastest-ageing societies. The aged now account for 29.3 p.c of Japan’s complete inhabitants, additionally a brand new excessive, based on information launched by the Ministry of Inside Affairs and Communications on Sunday.
The ministry mentioned the proportion of aged residents put Japan on the prime of the checklist of 200 nations and areas with a inhabitants of over 100,000.
Italy, Portugal, Greece, Finland, Germany and Croatia represented Europe within the prime 10, with charges of over 20 p.c. South Korea stood at 19.3 p.c and China 14.7 p.c.
Japan is dealing with a steadily worsening inhabitants disaster, as its increasing aged inhabitants results in hovering medical and welfare prices, with a shrinking labor pressure to pay for it.
The nation’s general inhabitants shrank by 595,000 to 124 million, based on the brand new authorities information.
The info additionally confirmed that 9.14 million aged folks have been employed in 2023, additionally a report.
They characterize 13.5 p.c of the overall workforce — or one worker in seven. The Japanese authorities has tried to sluggish the decline and getting old of its inhabitants with out significant success. (AFP)
