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| | 2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]</ref> | | 2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]</ref> |
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| − | Japan has long suppressed [[Christianity]] and is now paying a hefty price for that, by suffering from a long-term population and economic decline, and thereby allowing [[China]] to replace Japan as [[Asia]]'s largest economy. Lacking the benefits of Christianity, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-killer-serial-killer-sentenced-to-death-japan/</ref> | + | Japan has long suppressed [[Christianity]] and is now paying a hefty price for that, by suffering from a long-term population and economic decline, and thereby allowing [[China]] to replace Japan as [[Asia]]'s largest economy. Lacking the benefits of Christianity, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-killer-serial-killer-sentenced-to-death-japan/</ref> Japan's population peaked in 2008 at 128.08 million, and has been declining and increasing its average age ever since. |
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| | In the August 2009 national elections, the [[Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) suffered a massive defeat as voters blamed it for the poor economy, numerous corruption scandals and Prime Minister [[Taro Aso]]'s uninspiring leadership. The LDP has ruled Japan for nearly all of the last 50 years and is generally conservative, but it lost two-thirds of its seats. | | In the August 2009 national elections, the [[Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) suffered a massive defeat as voters blamed it for the poor economy, numerous corruption scandals and Prime Minister [[Taro Aso]]'s uninspiring leadership. The LDP has ruled Japan for nearly all of the last 50 years and is generally conservative, but it lost two-thirds of its seats. |
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| | ===Decline=== | | ===Decline=== |
| | [[File:Niños japoneces.jpg|left]] | | [[File:Niños japoneces.jpg|left]] |
| − | Japan's population peaked in 2006; the following year saw the second consecutive decline, with an official population of 127,053,471. The [[birth rate]] has now increased from 2006's record low, but this has been offset by an all-time-high in the [[death rate]]. 51% of the population is female, and people over 65 now make up 26.4% of the country.<ref>''[[Japan Times]]'': '[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20070803a2.html Population shrinks again despite increase in births]'. 3rd August 2007; "Japan's changing demography: Cloud, or silver linings?" ''Economist'' (Jul 26th 2007) at [https://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9539825].</ref> | + | Japan's population peaked in 2008, and has declined to 126 million in 2020. The [[birth rate]] has now increased from 2006's record low, but this has been offset by an all-time-high in the [[death rate]]. 51% of the population is female, and people over 65 now make up 26.4% of the country.<ref>''[[Japan Times]]'': '[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20070803a2.html Population shrinks again despite increase in births]'. 3rd August 2007; "Japan's changing demography: Cloud, or silver linings?" ''Economist'' (Jul 26th 2007) at [https://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9539825].</ref> |
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| | In 1947 the proportion of Japanese over 65 was around 5% of the population, well below that in Britain, France or America. Today the elderly account for one-fifth of the population, and average lifespans have grown remarkably. Life expectancy today is 82, up from a little over 50 in 1947. | | In 1947 the proportion of Japanese over 65 was around 5% of the population, well below that in Britain, France or America. Today the elderly account for one-fifth of the population, and average lifespans have grown remarkably. Life expectancy today is 82, up from a little over 50 in 1947. |