This figure represents an increase of 20,000 from the previous year, further solidifying Japan's position as the country with the highest proportion of elderly citizens globally.
The data, published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, revealed that women make up the majority of this demographic, numbering 20.53 million, compared to 15.72 million men.
Notably, individuals aged 80 and above now account for 10.4 percent of the population, surpassing the 10 percent threshold for the second consecutive year. In a related development, labor statistics indicate that approximately 9.14 million seniors were employed in 2023, comprising 13.5 percent of the total workforce.
The healthcare and welfare sectors have seen a substantial rise in elderly employment, with numbers more than doubling over the past decade to 1.07 million, partially addressing the persistent labor shortages in these industries.
