Part 1 Present State of Youths in Japan
Chapter 1 Youth Population
Section 1 Present State and Trends of the Youth Population
As of October 1, 2003, the total national population was 127,619,000, of which the youth population (aged 0 to 24) was 32,761,000, 25.7% of the national total.
Both the youth population and the ratio to national total have been steadily decreasing since 1955. (Figure 1)
Figure 1 Youth Population and Ratio to National Total
| Source: | "National Census" and "Population Estimates" (As of October 1 of each year), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications |
| Note: | Figures up to 1970 do not include Okinawa data. |
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 9.2 in 2002. (Figure 2)
*The Hinoeuma year in 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 was spread widely among the population and people avoided having children in the Hinoeuma year.
Figure 2 Birth Rate (per 1,000)
| Source: | "Population Trend Statistics," Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare |
| Note: | Figures up to 1972 do not include Okinawa data. |
(Marriage)
The average age for first marriages in Japan is 29.1 years old for males, and 27.4 for females, and has been on an upward trend for both males and females. (Figure 3)
Figure 3 Average Age for First Marriage
| Source: | "Population Trend Statistics," Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare |
| Note: | Figures up to 1972 do not include Okinawa data. |
(Death)
The death rate of youths (aged 0 to 24) by specific cause of death in 2002 shows that the biggest cause in infants less than one year was "congenital deformity and chromosome disorder", and "accidental death" in the age groups 1 to 4, 5 to 6, 10 to 14, and 15- to 19 and was "suicide" in the 20 to 24 age group (Table 1).
Table 1 Death Rate by Specific Cause of Death (Per 100,000 persons; By Age Group)
| Category Total death rate |
Total | Accidental death |
Suicide | Malignant neoplasm |
Heart Disease (excluding hyper-tension) |
Cerebro-vascular disease |
Pneumonia | Congenital Deformity, chromosome disorder |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than a year old | 2001 | 307.4 | 18.1 | - | 0.9 | 10.9 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 111.5 |
| 2002 | 303.1 | 14.5 | - | 1.6 | 12.5 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 120.4 | |
| 1-4 years old | 2001 | 28.6 | 7.1 | - | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 5 |
| 2002 | 26.8 | 6.3 | - | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 4.4 | |
| 5-9 years old | 2001 | 11.9 | 4.2 | 0 | 2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 12.3 | 4.7 | - | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | |
| 10-14 years old | 2001 | 10.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| 2002 | 10.4 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | |
| 15-19 years old | 2001 | 31.8 | 13.7 | 6.6 | 3 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| 2002 | 30.8 | 12.7 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | |
| 20-24 years old | 2001 | 45.6 | 15.9 | 14.8 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 2002 | 44.3 | 14.1 | 15.1 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | |
| Source: | Population Trend Statistics, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare |
| Note: | 1. The death rate for infants less than one year is the number of deaths per 100,000 capita. 2. "-" indicates that there are no figures; "0.0" indicates that the rate is minute (less than 0.05). |