• Births in Japan fell to 686,061 in 2024, the first time below 700,000 since records began.
• The total fertility rate also dropped to a record low of 1.15, significantly below replacement levels.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba calls the trend a "quiet emergency" as the nation grapples with demographic challenges.
• Deaths exceeded births for the 18th consecutive year, contributing to a net population decline of over 919,000.
• Similar demographic issues are observed in nearby countries such as South Korea and China.

The number of births in Japan fell to 686,061 in 2024, marking the first instance since record-keeping began in 1899 that births have dropped below the 700,000 mark. This reflects a 5.7 percent decrease compared to the previous year and continues an alarming trend of declining births for the 16th consecutive year, as highlighted by data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare according to India Times, Channel News Asia, and Newsweek.

The total fertility rate, representing the average number of children a woman can expect to have, also reached a historic low of 1.15. This figure is dramatically below the replacement level of 2.1 necessary for a stable population, according to government reports and analysis from various sources including India Times and South China Morning Post.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has remarked that these trends represent a "quiet emergency," emphasizing his commitment to implement family-friendly reforms aimed at reversing this declining trajectory. His government pledges measures such as more flexible working conditions to support child-rearing, especially in rural areas facing dwindling populations, reports India Times and Newsweek.

Additionally, Japan's population is projected to shrink drastically, potentially falling to 87 million by 2070, exacerbating concerns of social and economic sustainability. In 2024, the country witnessed about 1.6 million deaths, marking the 18th year in a row where deaths outnumber births, contributing to a net population drop of 919,237 people, according to data provided by the Health Ministry cited in South China Morning Post and India Times.