33 Million Births in Japan in the First Half of the Year... "Annual Total Expected to Fall Below 700,000 for the First Time"

The number of births in Japan in the first half of this year fell to 330,000, and the annual number of births is expected to fall below 700,000 for the first time.

According to Kyodo News on the 5th, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that the number of births in the first half of this year (January to June) was 329,998, down 6.3% from the same period last year (352,240).

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

This birth count does not include foreigners.

Kyodo stated, "With the continued low birthrate, there is a high possibility that the annual number of births this year will fall below 700,000 for the first time."

Last year, the number of births in Japan was 727,277, the lowest since related statistics began in 1899. Compared to the 2.09 million babies born in 1973 during the second baby boom period, the number of births has dropped to one-third in just 50 years.

The Japanese government is implementing various policies to increase the birthrate, such as expanding child allowances and improving the usage rate of paternity leave for men.