Part One Present State of Youths in Japan

Chapter 1 Youth Population

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Section 1 Present State and Trends of the Youth Population

As of October 1, 2002, the total national population was 127,435,000, of which the youth population (aged 0 to 24) was 33,308,000, 26.1% of the national total. By gender, there were 17,066,000 male youths and 16,242,000 female youths. Male youths exceeded female youths by 824,000, a ratio of 105.1 to 100.

The youth population has been steadily decreasing since 1955. The ratio to the national population has been declining since it stood at 52.5% in 1955, falling below the 40% level and continuing its downward trend. (Figure 1)

Figure 1 Youth Population and Ratio to National Total

Note:	Figures up to 1970 do not include Okinawa data.
Source:	"National Census" and "Population Estimates" (As of October 1 of each year), Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

Section 2 Youth Population

(Birth Rate)

The birth rate (number of new born babies per 1,000 persons) in Japan was in the thirties before WWII, but showed rapid decline after the postwar baby boom from 1947 to 1949. During the period from 1955 to 1973, except in 1966 (when the birthrate plunged in what is called the Hinoeuma year (fire horse year)*), it had remained almost unchanged in a range between 15 and 20. Immediately after 1973, it went on a downtrend again, reaching 9.3 in 2001. (Figure 2)

*The Hinoeuma year of Chinese astrology comes once every 60 years. In Japan, women born in the Hinoeuma year are believed to be headstrong and deadly to men. This superstition spread broadly among people and people have avoided having children in the Hinoeuma year.

Figure 2 Birth Rate (per 1,000 persons)

Note:	1. Figures up to 1972 do not include Okinawa data. 2. Figures up to 2000 are definitive, while 2001 data is approximate.
Source:	"Population Trend Statistics," Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

(Marriage)

The average age for first marriages in Japan was 29.0 years old for males, and 27.2 for females. The difference between the average age for first marriage for males and females has been shrinking. (Figure 3)

Figure 3 Average Age for First Marriage

Note:	1. Figures up to 1972 do not include Okinawa data. 2. Figures up to 2000 are definitive, while 2001 data is approximate.
Source:	"Population Trend Statistics," Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

(Death)

The death rate of youths (aged 0 to 24) by specific cause of death in 2001 shows that the biggest causes were "congenital deformity and chromosome disorder" and "morbidity arising in the prenatal period" in the 0 to 4 age group, and "accidental death" in other age groups. The second leading cause was "accidental death" in the 0 to 4 age group, "malignant neoplasm" in the 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 age groups, and "suicide" in the 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 age groups (Table 1).

Table 1 Death Rate by Specific Cause of Death (Per 100,000 persons; By Age Group)

Note:	1. "--" indicates that there are no figures; "0.0" indicates less than 0.5 of a unit. 2. The death rate is the number of deaths per 100,000 capita. 3. 2000 figures are definitive, and 2002 figures are approximate.
Source:	Population Trend Statistics, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Section 3 Regional Distribution of the Youth Population

According to the estimated population as of October 1, 2002, four prefectures in Southern Kanto (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa) accounted for 26.2% (8,718,000) of the total youth population in Japan. Prefectures with a youth population of over 2 million are limited to Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka, indicating that the youth population is concentrated in metropolitan areas in general.