Japan: the number of children dropped to a record

According to Japanese government figures, the number of children under 15 in the country has dropped to record levels. As of April 1, 2007, the country had 17.38 million children aged 14 and under, down 140,000 from last year. The Japanese Ministry of Home Affairs said this is the 26th year in a row that the number of children under 15 in Japan has declined.

Japan is the country with the highest proportion of old people compared to the youngest in the world. These new figures raise concerns about future economic growth in the country and the issue of subsidized funds. According to the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, The number of children under 15 accounts for only 13.6% of Japan's population, a record low. It is expected that this figure will decrease to only 12.3% in 2015.

In 2005, Japan's population decreased for the first time since the second world war.

A survey carried out by the Japanese government late last year forecast a decline in birth rates in the country will cause Japan's population to fall 30% in the next 50 years, from 127 million people today to 90 million.

In this situation, the government is committed to implementing many policies to facilitate women to raise their children by improving child care systems and childbirth benefits for working women.

WALL VY