In 2024, the number of elderly people in Japan aged 65 or older is projected to be approximately 36.25 million, accounting for 29.3% of the population, setting a new record according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The ministry reported on Sunday that with this percentage, Japan leads a list of 200 countries and regions, followed by French Martinique (25.3% of the population), Puerto Rico (24.7%), and Italy (24.6%), according to Agence France-Presse. In 2023, Japan’s population declined by 595,000 compared to 2022, bringing the total to 124 million, according to the latest figures.

The demographic crisis has significant implications, as the increase in the elderly population leads to higher medical and social costs, in addition to a decrease in the working-age population.