Japan's birth rate hits a record low; authorities plan to use a dating app to boost numbers.
The nation of 123.9 million people had only 727,277 births last year, as stated in new data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on Friday. The fertility rate, which is the overall number of births a woman has in her lifetime, decreased from 1.26 to 1.20.
For a population to stay stable, it needs a fertility rate of 2.1. Anything above that will result in a growing population with a large number of children and young adults, like India and many African countries.
However, Japan's fertility rate has been below the stable benchmark of 2.1 for over 50 years. It dropped below that level after the 1973 global oil crisis pushed economies into recession and never recovered.
The downward trend has been increasing in recent years, with deaths overtaking births annually and causing the overall population to decline. This leads to significant consequences for Japan's workforce, economy, welfare system, and societal fabric.
In 2023, the country had 1.57 million deaths, more than double the number of births, according to the Health Ministry.
And it's not just births that are declining in Japan; its marriage rate is also facing a slump. The number of marriages fell by 30,000, while the number of divorces increased last year.
Professionals expect this decline to continue for several more decades and, to an extent, may be irreversible due to the country's current population structure. Even if Japan boosted its fertility rate today, it will continue to see a population decrease until the proportion of young people to older adults balances out.
Now, the government is taking steps to mitigate the impact of this situation. It has created new agencies specifically to address this issue. Some of the initiatives include expanding child care facilities, offering housing subsidies to parents, and in some areas, even paying couples to have children.
In Tokyo, local officials are trying a different tactic: unveiling a government-run dating app. The app is still in early testing stages and will be fully operational later this year.
According to the app's website, "Please use it as 'the first step' to begin the process of finding a partner." It explains that the AI-matchmaking process is provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Users are required to take a "values diagnostic test" but can also outline the traits they desire in a potential partner.
The site says, "Based on your values and the values you seek in a partner, which can be determined by taking a diagnostic test, AI will introduce you to a compatible person." It adds, "What cannot be measured by physical appearance or conditions alone may lead to unexpected matches."
The app even caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who tweeted, "I'm glad the government of Japan recognizes the importance of this matter. If drastic action doesn't occur, Japan (and many other countries) will fade away."
Experts have informed CNN that this outcome is improbable. The fertility rate is expected to eventually stabilize, and the country will adapt. While Japan's demographics, economy, and domestic policies may change significantly, it will not suddenly disappear.
"Marriage is a personal choice based on one's own values, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working to create an environment that makes marriage more attractive and achievable," states the app's website.
Users must be single, over 18 years old "with an interest in marriage," and either live or work in Tokyo, the site says.
The website also lists other measures the government is taking to support couples, such as providing information on work-life balance, child care support, housing subsidies, encouraging men's participation in housework and child-rearing, and offering career counseling.
"We hope that each and every person who aspires to be in a 'couple' considers what being in a 'couple' means to them," it reads.
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The government's initiative to combat Japan's decreasing birth rate extends beyond traditional methods, with the introduction of a government-run dating app in Tokyo. This app, aimed at singles over 18 years old with an interest in marriage, uses AI to match individuals based on their shared values and desires.
In the context of Asia, Japan's population decline stands out as a notable trend, raising concerns about the region's overall demographic dynamics.
