"I Die Alone"... Japan Reports "68,000 Solitary Deaths Annually" in First Official Statistics

70,000 Elderly Expected to Die from Loneliness and Isolation This Year
Annual Solitary Deaths Approximately 20 Times Higher Than in Korea

The Japanese government has released official statistics estimating that about 68,000 Japanese people die alone at home each year. This figure is approximately 20 times higher than that of South Korea. On the 14th, the Asahi Shimbun reported that from January to March this year, 21,716 people in Japan were confirmed to have died alone at home. While local governments and private organizations in Japan have previously conducted investigations related to solitary deaths, this is the first time official government-level statistics have been published.

The increase in solitary deaths in Japan is attributed to the deepening aging population. In this survey, among the cases of solitary deaths, approximately 17,034 were elderly people aged 65 and over, accounting for about 80%. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

If this trend continues until the end of this year, the Japanese government estimates that about 68,000 people will die alone. These numbers are based on police and medical reports and include cases of suicide. One of the main reasons for the increase in solitary deaths in Japan is the intensifying aging population. In this survey, about 17,034 cases, or roughly 80%, involved elderly people aged 65 and over.

The number of solitary deaths increases with age, with 4,922 cases among those aged 85 and older. This figure is 2.5 times higher than the estimated annual solitary deaths of 26,821 people aged 65 and over, released 13 years ago in 2011 by the Nissei Basic Research Institute, a Japanese private research organization. On the previous day, Keizo Takemi, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, appeared before the House of Representatives and stated, "The probability of solitary deaths will increase further," adding, "It is an important task to address this issue head-on and decisively."

Compared to South Korea, the annual scale of solitary deaths in Japan is estimated to be about 20 times larger. According to the first solitary death survey released by the South Korean government in 2022, there were a total of 3,378 solitary death cases in 2021. South Korea enacted the "Act on the Prevention and Management of Solitary Deaths" on April 1, 2021, and began conducting statistical surveys every five years.