Japan’s declining birthrate

Japan’s declining birthrate
Japan’s declining birthrate

Japan’s declining birthrate

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.
Japan’s birthrate, which has been declining for decades, reached a record low last year. More than a quarter of the country’s population is over the age of 65. The decline in births has come as many Japanese have decided to marry later or not at all. The changing demographics have all kinds of implications for Japan, everything from a shortage of workers to take care of the elderly to issues for maintaining social security and pensions. The Japanese government has attempted all sorts of policy changes to try to address the issue. Liv Coleman, a professor of government and world affairs at the University of Tampa, joins us to talk about how the country is dealing with its declining population. (Photo: Flickr/scion_cho)