Japan's population aged 65 and older has reached a record high, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ahead of 'Respect for the Aged Day' on September 21, the ministry released population estimates on September 20.
According to the ministry, the number of people aged 65 and older in Japan is 36.24 million, accounting for 29.6% of the total population. While the absolute number of elderly individuals has not increased significantly compared to 2022 and 2024, the overall population decline has led to a new record percentage. This figure is the highest among 39 countries with populations exceeding 40 million, far surpassing Italy's 25.6% and Germany's 24.2%.
As the population ages, more elderly individuals are remaining in the workforce. The number of employed individuals aged 65 and older has reached 9.43 million, marking a 22-year consecutive increase and the highest on record. This means that one in seven workers is now aged 65 or older. Japan's aging trend is expected to accelerate further, with projections estimating that by 2045, the population aged 65 and older will reach 39.45 million, making up 36.3% of the total population.
South Korea is experiencing an even faster aging process. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the proportion of South Koreans aged 65 and older is expected to reach 20% by December 2024, crossing the threshold into a 'super-aged society' (defined as having over 20% of the population aged 65 and older). This entry point has come sooner than the previously anticipated 2025.
The issue lies in the speed of this transition. South Korea took just 7 years and 4 months to move from an 'aging society' (defined as having over 14% of the population aged 65 and older) to a 'super-aged society,' which is shorter than Japan's 10-year transition. The gap is even larger compared to the United Kingdom (50 years), France (39 years), and the United States (15 years).
Long-term projections are even steeper. While South Korea's proportion of individuals aged 65 and older ranked 22nd in the world last year, it is estimated to rise to 41% by 2060, surpassing Japan and becoming the highest in the world.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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