RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
The number of people aged 100 and above in Japan has risen above 100,000 for the first time, highlighting the country’s rapidly ageing population amid a prolonged decline in births.
Figures released by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed that the country had 107,677 centenarians as of September 2026, representing an increase of 7,914 from the previous year.
Women account for the overwhelming majority, with 94,298 women compared with 13,379 men, meaning women make up nearly 88 per cent of the total.
The ministry said the number of people aged 100 and above has increased steadily since the government began compiling the statistics in 1963, when only 153 centenarians were recorded nationwide. The figure passed 1,000 in 1981 and 10,000 in 1998 before exceeding 50,000 in 2012.
Among Japan’s oldest residents is 114-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto, recognised as the country’s oldest woman. The oldest man is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto, according to the report.
The latest figures were released in connection with Respect for the Aged Day, observed annually on September 15. The Japanese government marks the occasion by presenting centenarians with congratulatory letters and commemorative gifts.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno attributed Japan’s increasing longevity to improvements in living conditions, nutrition and medical technology. He also stressed the need to ensure that the country’s social security system remains sustainable as the population continues to age.
Japan’s ageing population is occurring alongside a persistent decline in births. The government has been grappling with concerns over fewer marriages, lower fertility and the growing economic and social pressures associated with raising children.
The demographic shift is expected to place increasing pressure on healthcare, pensions and other social welfare services, while reducing the proportion of the population in the working-age bracket.
