Japan’s Centenarians Top 100,000 Amid Population Decline
Japan’s Centenarians Top 100,000 Amid Population Decline
Anonymous
Key Points
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Japan’s annual centenarian survey recorded only 153 people aged 100 or older when it began in 1963; the total later passed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012.
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The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry counted 94,298 women and 13,379 men among Japan’s centenarians. Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is the country’s oldest woman, while Hikaru Kato, 112, is its oldest man.
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Japan’s average life expectancy in 2025 was 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men, illustrating the persistent gender gap in longevity.
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More than 800,000 people in Japan were aged 95 or older in 2025, while only about 700,000 babies were born that year, underscoring the widening imbalance between older and younger generations.
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Japan’s fertility rate fell to a record-low 1.14 in 2025, well below the approximately 2.1 replacement level generally needed to maintain a stable population without migration.
Japan has crossed a historic milestone: for the first time, the country's centenarian population has surpassed 100,000 people. As of September 1, 2026, Japan's Health Ministry counted 107,677 people aged 100 or older—up 7,914 from the previous year and marking the 56th consecutive annual increase. Yet this longevity record masks a troubling reality: Japan's overall population is shrinking fast, leaving the workforce stretched and the pension system strained.
The centenarian boom reflects decades of medical progress and healthy living. But with fewer babies born each year than people turning 100, Japan faces a demographic crisis. Women comprise 87.6 percent of the centenarians, reflecting a persistent gap in life expectancy between genders.
A Six-Decade Climb to 100,000
Japan's centenarian record is a relatively recent phenomenon. According to soranews24, the annual survey counted just 153 people aged 100 or older in 1963. The numbers grew slowly at first: 1,000 by 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012. The pace has accelerated dramatically in recent years, adding another 50,000 in just fourteen years.
Within Japan's centenarian population, women vastly outnumber men. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry recorded 94,298 women and 13,379 men—a ratio reflecting both longer female life expectancy and higher survival rates at advanced ages. Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is the nation's oldest living woman, while Hikaru Kato, 112, is its oldest man.
Why Japan Lives So Long
Researchers point to several factors behind Japan's longevity. Advances in medical care and public health screenings allow early detection of diseases. Traditional diets—rich in vegetables, fish, and minimal processed foods—help keep obesity rates low. Regular physical activity and strong social connections in close-knit communities also contribute to longer, healthier lives.
Japan's life expectancy numbers back this up. According to health data, the average Japanese woman lived to 87.33 years in 2025, while men averaged 81.35 years. That 5.98-year gap between genders is common globally, but Japan's overall figures rank among the world's highest.
A Demographic Time Bomb Beneath the Milestone
Japan's centenarian success story exists alongside a population crisis. People aged 65 and older now make up roughly 30 percent of Japan's total population. Simultaneously, births have plummeted. Only about 700,000 babies were born in 2025—far fewer than the 800,000 people aged 95 or older in the country.
Japan's fertility rate hit a record low of 1.14 in 2025, according to government statistics, well below the roughly 2.1 replacement level needed to sustain a stable population without immigration. This imbalance strains pensions, health care, and social services. The working-age population that funds these systems is shrinking rapidly.
A Global Pattern: Centenarians Rising Worldwide
Japan is not alone in experiencing centenarian growth. The United States counted 80,139 people aged 100 or older in 2020, with projections suggesting the number could reach roughly 422,000 by 2054. Australia and other developed nations are also aging rapidly as medical advances extend life and birth rates decline worldwide.
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