Japan is taking urgent steps to increase its population

Japan's population is declining 

Photo: Reuters

Japan's birth rate is falling. This has worried the country's government. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged on Monday to take urgent action to tackle the country's declining birth rate. Now is the time to take action to increase Japan's birth rate, he said. If action is not taken now, it will be too late. So no time to wait. Japan already has the oldest population in the world.

For several years, the Japanese government has been giving various incentives to the people to increase the birth rate. Various benefits including cash have also been announced for having more children. But according to the survey, Japan is one of the most expensive countries in the world to raise a child. Because of this, many people do not want to have children.

Japan's birth rate fell to a new record last year, according to official figures. Last year, eight lakh fewer children were born than the government expected. Earlier in 2015, the country recorded a decline in the birth rate. The country is expected to further decline in birth rate in the future. Because the average age of people there is 49. Monaco has the world's oldest population. Japan is the second oldest country in the world.

Fumio Kishida addresses his government's policies at the start of Japan's new year parliament session. He said, 'There is concern about whether our nation can maintain social activities or not. Childbirth and rearing policies should be taken now. This is something that can't wait any longer.'

Kishida said he will submit a plan to double the child care budget by next June. A new children and families government agency will be set up to oversee the issue in April.

According to Japan's Yuwa Population Research, Japan is the third most expensive country in the world to raise a child. At the top is China. Then South Korea. Population is decreasing in both these countries. Several other countries around the world are facing the problem of population decline and aging population. China reported last week that its population fell last year in 60 years.