Birth rate in Japan – How many children do Japanese people usually have?

Japan is a very small country with a population of about 127 million inhabitants; some might even think that in Japan, birth rates are controlled or that it is allowed to have only one child in the country. The truth is that Japan suffers from exactly the opposite; the government is encouraging the population to have as many children as possible, but unfortunately, couples do not want to.

Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world; research shows that the population is aging and the number of young people is decreasing, and no one wants to have children. It is believed that if this continues, many cities will be abandoned, resulting in various economic and social problems.

The government has done its utmost to encourage couples to have children; there is even financial assistance from the government for those who have children. Even though the Japanese have the means, they are aware of the difficulties of raising a child.

Moreover, Japan allows abortion, further decreasing the birth rate. This is a completely opposite scenario to Brazil, where people without means have many children, leading to poverty, crime, and expenses for the government.

How many children do the Japanese usually have?

The birth rate in Japan is 1.34 per woman. This is a very low number that causes the population to decrease progressively, about 0.16% per year.

In Japan, only about 1 million babies are born each year, and research shows that this number will decrease. In the past, in 1925, the birth rate was 5 children for each woman, and it has been decreasing progressively.

Here are some interesting facts about the Japanese population:

• The majority of couples usually have only one child, rarely exceeding 2 or 3;
• 13% of the Japanese population is between 0 and 14 years old;
• 60% of the Japanese population is between 15 and 64 years old;
• 26% are over 65 years old;
• There is a large number of women over 30 who are single;

Facts about mothers and their children

• Mothers do not breastfeed in public;
• Having a nanny is something rare;
• After the first child, many stop working outside;
• Schools are not public in Japan;

These factors also contribute to the lack of birth rate in Japan. Raising children is a great responsibility, and the Japanese think a lot before making any decision. This is completely correct because, unfortunately, many parents have children and cannot educate them or take time to spend with them.

Women generally have to choose between a career and a family. According to some statistics, about 70% of Japanese women are essentially forced to stop working after their first child.

Incentives to have children in Japan

The government and companies have done everything possible to encourage couples to have children. They also encourage singles to find a wife. Unfortunately, men tend not to relate much due to shyness and lack of commitment. Many do not need women to satisfy their sexual desires.

The government has offered many forms of assistance, allowances, and subsidies. Parents usually receive help of 15,000 yen per month to assist in raising and breastfeeding their child. The government also offers more benefits for those who have 2 or more children. Some provinces have even offered very high amounts to encourage having children.

In addition to the financial assistance from the government, some companies like Canon have reduced working hours and encouraged couples to have children. TV programs, Doramas, and Animes often present large families with many children to encourage couples to have them.

Moreover, companies have launched various products and simulators to encourage young people to find girlfriends; unfortunately, sometimes this has the opposite effect and causes some to isolate themselves. The media also tries to encourage couples to have more sexual relations, as this has also decreased among some couples.

Lack of Interest in Sex

Research shows that one of the main causes is the lack of sex, even among couples. In this article, we want to discuss whether the Japanese have really lost interest in sex and what the true reasons for the decline in birth rates are.

The lack of interest in sex is known as sekkusu shinai shokogun or “celibacy syndrome“. Research conducted claims that more than 50% of the population has gone without having sex for up to a month.

Even married Japanese people claim that they do not have much sex most of the time because they come home tired from work or simply have no interest. This is another major factor contributing to the lack of birth rate in Japan.

Since the mid-90s, Japan’s economy has stagnated and prices have risen. This has made it increasingly difficult for young people to leave home and have their own lives; at most, they resort to small cubicles. It is difficult to start a family this way.