【Aging, safety net and fiscal crisis in Japan】No.331: The percentage of the elderly to the total population increased to 29.1%  

Since the third Monday of September is a national holiday in Japan for respecting the elderly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications publishes population estimates in September every year. As shown in Table 1, while the total population was estimated to be 125,220,000 in September 2021, which is a decrease of 510,000 compared to 2020, the population of people aged 65 and older increased by 220,000. As a result, the percentage of elderly people increased from 28.8% of the total population in 2020 to 29.1% of the total population in 2021.

For international comparison, the Ministry also estimated the percentage of elderly people living overseas as of July 1, 2021 based on the World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision (United Nations). As shown in Figure 1, Japan had the highest percentage at 29.1%, and Italy ranked second with 23.6%. It is estimated that the percentage of elderly people in China, which is as low as 12.4% in 2021, will increase rapidly in the future and will reach the same level as Japan around 2045.

Table 1: Population (in September of each year)

Note: The total figures do not always match due to rounding off
Source: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Figure 1: International comparison of the elderly population

Note: The total figures do not always match due to rounding off
Source: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications