Japan is getting smaller. Not in land. In numbers of people. In 2023, Japan’s total population went down. That marks 15 years of shrinking in a row!

Last year, 730,000 people were born in Japan. That sounds like a lot—but it’s actually a record low. About 1.58 million people died the same year. That’s a record high. As of January 1, 124.9 million people lived in the country.

Children are an incredible blessing from God. But many young Japanese people are reluctant to get married and have kids. They think it will be hard to find work and that it costs too much to live in Japan. Many don’t think they will be able to support families.

This is a big problem. Government officials try to solve it. In 2024, the government is giving $34 billion to projects to encourage young people to have more children. The money will help pay for school and childcare. 

Will that work? Maybe. Experts say the money will be good for married couples who have kids or plan to have kids. But they say it won’t help with young people who don’t want to get married.

Researchers say that Japan’s population will fall to 87 million by 2070. Then four of every 10 people will be 65 or older!

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:14