By Desire Emmanuel with Agency Reports
The number of people aged 100 and above in Japan has exceeded 107,677 for the first time, according to the health ministry, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Tuesday.
Figures from the ministry show Japan is now home to 107,677 centenarians, the highest number in the world, of whom 88 per cent are women.
The oldest woman is Kishimoto Fuyo, a 114-year-old from Kyoto City and the oldest man is Kato Hikaru, a 112-year-old from Kumamoto.
Health Minister, Kenichiro Ueno, said he was “delighted that so many people are living long, healthy and active lives,” citing progress in medicine and technology.
But Kenichiri also warned of the challenge the country faces in maintaining a sustainable social security system.
Experts put the long lives of the Japanese down to several factors, including a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
The island nation’s cuisine predominantly consists of fish, vegetables, and rice – and less saturated fat than many Western diets.
Older people also regularly walk, use public transport, cycle and stretch.
Japan has been ageing for years and sales of adult nappies have been higher than those for babies for more than a decade.
Companies have also developed new products for the older population, including a powered exoskeleton to support moving various parts of the body and eyewear that automatically adjusts its focus.
For a population to replace itself, each woman needs to give birth to 2.1 children on average. Last year, Japan’s total fertility rate dropped to a record low of 1.14.
The total population is estimated to drop to 87 million by 2070, representing a 30 per cent decline from its peak of 128 million in 2008, according to data from the National Institute of Population and Social Security research.
Residents aged 65 and older currently make up around 30 per cent of the population and are expected to make up nearly 40 per cent by 2070.
Japanese authorities have called the trend an “existential crisis” with Prime Minister Sanae Takichi describing the decline as a “quiet emergency”.
In 2025 Japan’s total population decreased in all 47 prefectures but two, and the rate of decline is accelerating.
When Japan began its centenarian survey in 1963, there were 153 people aged 100 and above. That figure rose to 1,000 in 1981 and stood at 10,000 by 1998.
The most recent figures were released ahead of Japan’s annual “Respect for the Aged” public holiday, on which the government honours those turning 100 with a personal letter and traditional sake cup.
Studies have previously cast doubt on the validity of global centenarian numbers, suggesting data errors, unreliable public records and missing birth certificates may account for elevated figures.
