Japan approves plan to ‘substantially’ boost child allowances to tackle falling birth rate

Tokyo also plans to boost annual spending on child care and bring it to 16 per cent of GDP, on a par with Sweden that has extensive child-related support

Spending plan comes despite Japan’s financial health being the worst among advanced economies and social security costs ballooning with the rapid ageing of society

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Children do their homework at a children’s play space open for survivors of the earthquake in Suzu. The government plans to boost annual spending on child care and bring it to 16 per cent of gross domestic product from 11 per cent. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:03pm, 16 Feb 2024

Japan’s cabinet on Friday approved a bill to expand the coverage of monthly child allowances to high school-age children as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to stem the sharp drop in Japan’s birth rate.

Under the plan, the existing income limit for households receiving the benefits will be removed. A new funding scheme will be set up, requiring each person to pay an additional 300 to 500 yen (US$2-3.30) in the form of monthly health insurance premiums from financial year 2026.

Starting in October this year, the eligibility to receive 10,000 yen a month will be expanded to those aged between 16 and 18.

The current 15,000 yen monthly allowance for the third child and beyond will be doubled to 30,000 yen.

Children view lanterns in the Chinatown of Yokohama. Japan had around 2.09 million newborns in the midst of its second baby boom in 1973. It slipped below 1 million in 2016 and below 800,000 in 2022 for the first time. Photo: Xinhua

Child allowances are designed to assist parents and guardians of children up to age 15 when many finish junior high school in Japan.

“We will ensure seamless support and substantially increase the benefits that child-rearing households receive,” Ayuko Kato, a minister in charge of child policy, told a press conference.

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