Never say die: Japan’s centenarians increase by five times in two decades
- There are 90,526 Japanese citizens aged 100 and above, an increase of 5 per cent from a year earlier and more than five times the number 20 years ago
- Helped by healthy diets and an accessible medical system, Japan has the second-highest life expectancy in the world, ranking just behind Hong Kong
The number of centenarians in Japan has risen to a fresh record, underscoring the challenges facing the country as its population rapidly gets older.
There are now 90,526 Japanese citizens aged 100 and above, an increase of 5 per cent from a year earlier and more than five times the number two decades ago, according to a report released on Friday by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The data was unveiled ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, or Keiro no Hi, a national holiday on September 19.
By comparison, the US has 97,914 centenarians, according to the latest census data, despite having about a population that’s more than 200 million larger.
Japan is struggling to manage one of the world’s fastest ageing societies and a low birth rate that has strained its pension system. Helped by healthy diets and an accessible medical system, Japan has the second-highest life expectancy in the world, ranking just behind Hong Kong.
People turning 100 in Japan typically get a silver cup from the prime minister. The rapid increase in the number of centenarians prompted the government to turn to a cheaper version of the metal in 2016.