Japan Sees Over 6,000 Increase in Centenarians Aged 100 and Above in One Year

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The number of supercentenarians aged 100 and over in Japan has increased by more than 6,000 in one year. Due to advancements in medical technology, the population of those aged 100 and over in Japan has been rising for 51 consecutive years.

According to the supercentenarian population statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on the 14th, as of the 15th of this month, the population aged 100 and over in Japan reached 86,510, an 8% increase (6,060 people) compared to the previous year, setting a record high for the 51st consecutive year.

The number of people aged 100 and over in Japan has increased sixfold compared to 20 years ago in 2001, and the number of centenarians per 100,000 population reached a record high of 68.54. By gender, males reached 10,060, surpassing 10,000 for the first time, while females accounted for about 90%, totaling 76,450.

The Japanese government has been compiling statistics on supercentenarians aged 100 and over since 1963. The population aged 100 and over, which was 153 in the first year, exceeded 1,000 in 1981. Since then, it has rapidly increased every year, surpassing 10,000 in 1998, 50,000 in 2012, and 60,000 in 2015.

Japan's oldest person is Kane Tanaka, a woman residing in Fukuoka who holds the world record. Born in 1903, she celebrated her 118th birthday on January 2nd. The oldest Japanese man is Mikizo Ueda, born in 1910, who is 111 years old.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.