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Japan's Centenarians Top 100,000 for First Time
Health ministry figures show women make up 88% of the total, as improved care and diet help drive longevity.
- On September 1, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported a record 107,677 centenarians, marking the first time the population aged 100 or older surpassed 100,000 since record-keeping began in 1963.
- When the government began tracking centenarians in 1963, the count stood at just 153 individuals. The population surpassed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012, reflecting steady decades-long growth.
- Women account for 87.6% of the total, or 94,298 individuals, according to health ministry data. Kyoto resident Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is Japan's oldest woman, while 112-year-old Hikaru Kato of Kumamoto is the oldest man.
- Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno welcomed the milestone while warning of mounting fiscal strain on Japan's social security system. Officials estimate the need for 2.4 million healthcare workers by 2026 to meet growing elderly care demands.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has described Japan's falling birthrate as a "quiet emergency," as projections show the total population will drop from 123 million to 87 million by 2070, intensifying long-term demographic challenges.
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(Tokyo=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Do-yeon = The proportion of the elderly aged 65 and over in Japan's population has reached an all-time high.
·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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It has been revealed that the elderly population aged 65 and over in Japan is approaching 30% of the total population, with one in seven people being a "working senior." Although South Korea ranks sixth in the world for the proportion of its elderly population, projections suggest that due to the rapid pace of its aging, it will reach the world's highest level within about 20 years. On the 21st, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communica…
The Tennessean+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
This country has over 100,000 people age 100 or older for first time
More than 100,000 people in one country are now 100 or older. Here's what's behind the milestone.
·Nashville, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources339
Leaning Left40Leaning Right36Center50Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Center
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
40% Center
L 32%
C 40%
R 28%
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