The shrinking and the aging of Japan's population are accelerating at a rapid pace unprecedented in other countries. This transformation makes savings shrink, national economic growth potential weaken and the financial structure deteriorate while giving rise to various other social problems. Although the shifts in Japan's demographic situation as shown by relevant future predictions are fairly certain, the Japanese government has avoided dealing with this problem in a proactive manner and thus has exacerbated it.
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, it is estimated that the nation's population will decrease from 128.05 million in 2010 to 116.62 million by 2030, 86.74 million by 2060, and 49.59 million by 2100. The bonus from this country's population increase in the 20th century will end up as an onus in the 21st century, causing the economy to shrink drastically.
The graying of Japan's population is progressing at a rapid pace. The ratio of people aged 65 and older is expected to rise from 23.1 percent to 31.6 percent between 2010-2030 while the ratio of the productive-age population comprising people aged 15 to 64 is expected to fall from 63.8 percent to 58.1 percent in this period.