How Japan's Decline in Birth Rate Will Effect the Country

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With the country’s current birth rate, Japan’s population of 127.5 million is expected to decrease by 25% within 35 years. The slowly shrinking country is also met with the problem that its population is also the oldest in the world, with over 25% of residents over the age of 65. These two facts combine to make a very unique and awkward situation in Japan in which no other country has ever been in before. Many changes are expected to occur in Japan, and efforts are being made to maintain the country’s economy, however its unclear if enough efforts are being made. I predict that In the future, Japan’s economy will be affected by its both declining and aging population, and certain government reforms are necessary to fix the population decline. The first question, of course, is how did Japan’s population start declining?
The role of women in the workforce plays probably the largest role in the declining population.
“When women have children, almost half of them end up leaving the workforce, which is double the rate of the United States. Mothers are leaving the workforce mainly because there is no one else who can take care of their babies; it is almost impossible to find childcare in Japan.” (Chow)
The lack of childcare facilities in Japan creates an environment for women where they must decide whether to have kids or to continue working, and many of which choose the latter. However, women are not the only ones who are avoiding marriage. In fact, 45% of men show no interest in dating according to a government survey of people between the ages of 18 and 34, taken in 2011 (Traphagan).
With both men and women shunning childbirth, it is no wonder the country’s birth rate is so low. However a low birth rate does not necessar...

... middle of paper ...

...ese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is the integration of robotics into both child care and manufacturing. (Chow, Traphagan). First area of which raises several questions pertaining towards whether or not being raised by robots is humane or safe, but those questions shall are to be reserved for another time.

Works Cited
Ato, Makoto, and Fujimasa, Iwao. “Will declining birthrate hurt Japan?” Global Aging. 19
August 2003. Web. 11 February 2014.
Chow, Lisa. “Will Robot Nannies Save Japan's Economy?” NPR. National Public Radio.
19 July 2013. Web. 12 February 2014.
Pearce, Fred. “Japan’s aging population could actually be good news.” New Scientist. 7
January 2014. Web. 11 February 2014.
Rattner, Steven. “The Lessons of Japan’s Economy.” Sunday Review. 19 October 2013.
Web. 11 February 2014.
Traphagen, John. “Japan’s Demographic Disaster.” The Diplomat. 3 February, 2013.

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