Japan Flashcards
(28 cards)
Population dynamics: Estimated population and median age
Japan has an estimated population of 126.9 million people, with a median age of 46.2 years as of 2015. This makes Japan the 10th most populous nation in the world.
Population dynamics: Urban areas
93% of Japan’s population live in urban areas, primarily in megacities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. A megacity is one characterised by a population above 10 million people.
Population dynamics: Ageing population
Japan is the first country to be officially considered ‘hyper-aged’, defined by the UN as a population whereby more than 20% is above the age of 65.
Population dynamics: DTM
Japan sits in stage 5 of the demographic transition, characterised by low birth rates (1.34) and the highest life expectancy of any nation.
Population history: Mid 19th century onwards
In the mid 19th century, Japan’s population was reasonably stable at around 30 million. Improvements in healthcare and education lead to a population increase, reaching 60 million by 1926.
Population history: WW1
Following WW1, a baby boom caused population to increase to 100 million by 1967. The 1960s-70s showed year on year growth of 1%
Population history: Late 20th century to present
Since 1988, death rates have been increasing due to the greater amount of the population being of ‘dying age’.
Population change: Birth rate
Birthrate has decreased from 18 births per 1000 people since the early 1970s, to only 8 per 1000 people as of 2015.
Population change: 0-14 age group
The 0-14 age group had decreased from 35.5% in 1950, to only 12.7% by 2014.
Population change: 65+ age group
The 65+ age group increased from 4.9% in 1950, to 26% by 2014.
Population change: Working age population
Working age populous has steadily decreased since 1993, to only 61.3% by 2014.
Define ageing population
An ageing population is one whereby elderly people occupy an increasing percentage of a population, defined by the UN as 7-14% of a population.
It is the function of two main processes; decreasing birth rate and increasing life expectancy.
4 reasons for Japan’s increasing life expectancy
- Healthy Japanese diet including fish, soy, and minimal sugar
- Culture places great emphasis on hygiene, with people attending regular health checkups
- Post WW2 investment in public heath schemes/ vaccinations/ harmful food reduction in order to irradiate disease
- Elderly people tend to live very active social and physical lives
Reasons for decreasing fertility rates: Gender roles
- Social expectation that children only be be born in wedlock; only 2% born outside of marriage
- Japanese men contribute very little to childcare and housework, only 1 hour per day as opposed to USA and Germany with 2-3 hours daily
- Expectation that women will not return to the workforce after having children
- Rising age of marriage of Japanese women (29 years)
Reasons for declining fertility rates: Economic
- Long working hours and a work-centred lifestyle
- Increasing cost of childcare services
- Increasing cost of living, especially in major cities
- Increasing amount of young people living with parents until the age of around 30, these ‘parasite singles’ tend to spend more money on themselves than future family responsibilities.
Impacts of Japan’s ageing population: Economic
- The size of the workforce is expected to roughly half between 2010 and 2060, from 88.7 million, to around 44.2 million
- The elderly dependancy ratio has increased from there being 7 working people per each elderly person in 1985, to only 2.8 by 2010
- Rapidly ageing population will place a greater tax burden on younger, working people
Impacts of Japan’s ageing population: Sociopolitical
- Age shift will result in older generations having greater political clout, potentially leading to intergenerational conflict with regards to budgetary policy decisions
- Household composition showed considerable change with decreasing amounts of nuclear families and rising numbers of single person households.
Regional variation in ageing
There is significant regional variation in Japan’s ageing. Whereas the average age of farmers in regional areas has increased by 15 years, the greatest amount of ageing is expected to be in urban areas.
National response: What is the Angel plan
- The Angel Plan is a pro-natalist policy administered by the Japanese health ministry in order to increase fertility rates, as well as increasing labour force participation by women
National response: Aims of the Angel Plan
- Introduced infrastructure to support duel parenting including the provision of paid maternity leave at 60%
- Planned to construct 50,000 new daycare facilities
- Encourage husband contribution to housework/childcare from 1 hour daily, to 2.5
- Aimed to increase workforce participation of 60-64 year olds from 53% to 60%
- Provision of $100 per month in childcare support
National response: Evaluation of the Angel Plan
- Quantity of child payments is quite low thus has little effect
- Resulted in a compulsory premium for all 40+ year olds
- No net change in birth rates of 1.34 between 1990 and 2010
- Steady increase in medical copayments such that 30% of the cost is passed on to the consumer
National response: What is Abenomics
Economic policy introduced by prime minister, Shinzo Abe aimed at addressing the issue of a declining population and consequent workforce depletion - particularly by females
National response: Aims of Abenomics
- Encouraged increase in female participation rates by aiming to create 40,000 new childcare places by 2018
- Encouraged government and businesses to have at least 30% of supervisory positions occupied by women
- Encouraged (not cumulsory) major Stockmarket corporations to have at least one woman on the board of directors
- Looses immigration laws
National response: Evaluation of Abenomics
- Slight rise in female participation rates, projected to hit targets by 2020
- However, plans to introduce 200,000 new economic migrants was met with fierce hostility as a result of widespread cultural homogeneity
