Record 95,000 Centenarians in Japan, Women Comprise 88.3%

Japan’s centenarian population has reached a record 95,000, marking a 54-year consecutive increase, Anadolu Agency reported today.

The Health Ministry’s data, released for Respect for Aged Day, reveals an annual rise of 2,980 centenarians. Women represent 83,958 (88.3%) of this group, while men total 11,161.

Japan boasts one of the world’s oldest populations, with 36.25 million individuals aged 65 and above, 25.2% of whom are employed. Recently, 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka was recognized as the world’s oldest person, and 110-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno is Japan’s oldest man. Despite this longevity, Japan’s overall population has declined from 122.42 million in 2022 to 121.56 million in 2023, marking the largest drop since 1968.