In 2024, 720,988 babies were born in the country, marking the ninth consecutive year of decline in child births.

Japan's population has been shrinking for 15 years, with huge implications for the country's economy, national defense, and culture. Now, policymakers are working to boost birth rates.

Additionally, the government has expanded childcare facilities, offered housing subsidies, and even launched an official dating application to encourage marriage and childbirth. However, analysts ...

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech ... paid for by those who can afford it. Japan is likely to cover parents’ hospital fees for childbirth from April 2026 as the country ...

TOKYO – Japan’s Health Ministry is set ... to address the country’s declining birth rate. One proposed approach in the policy approved on May 14 by a panel of experts involves fully covering ...

Japan’s health ministry is set to ... to address the country’s declining birth rate. One proposed approach in the policy approved on Wednesday by a panel of experts involves fully covering ...

Japan is likely to cover parents ... The health ministry adopted a childcare policy package in 2023 to reverse the declining birth rate by supporting new families financially.