JAPAN / Society / FOCUS

Despite government reluctance, Japan's population outlook makes immigration talk inevitable

The deserted town of Yubari in Hokkaido illustrates Japan's shrinking and aging population, a problem that will become more acute in 2065. | BLOOMBERG

Kyodo

Apr 11, 2017

The latest forecasts for the decline in the nation's population are likely to bring forward the debate on immigration, despite the government's refusal to use the word "immigration" to describe its policies.

The country's population is expected to shrink to 88.08 million by 2065, down roughly 30 percent from its 2015 level, according to a government estimate released Monday.

Although that is a slower pace of decline than the last estimate in 2012, the figures indicate a dark outlook for the government's goal of keeping the population at 100 million by 2064.

Despite government reluctance, Japan's population outlook makes immigration talk inevitable

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