Over 92,000 Centenarians in Japan... 53 Consecutive Years of Increase

Women 89%, Japan's Oldest Person Also a 116-Year-Old Woman
"Fewer in Large Cities with Many Working Population and Children"

Elderly person in Tokyo, Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of elderly people aged 100 and over in Japan increased compared to last year. This marks the 53rd consecutive year of growth in the population aged 100 and above in Japan.

According to local media such as NHK and Kyodo News on the 15th, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced the trends of the population aged 100 and over and the oldest individuals ahead of Respect for the Aged Day (September 18). This year, the number of elderly people aged 100 and over was counted at 92,139, an increase of 1,613 from last year.

The number of elderly people aged 100 and over in Japan was 153 when Japan first started compiling statistics in 1963. It exceeded 10,000 for the first time in 1998 and surpassed 50,000 in 2012. The number has been increasing every year due to advances in medicine and nursing care.

Women Account for 89%... More in Rural Areas than Major Cities

The vast majority of people aged 100 and over are women. Women numbered 81,589, accounting for 88.5% of the total, while men numbered 10,550. The number of women aged 100 and over increased by 1,428 compared to last year.

The number of people aged 100 and over per 100,000 population averages 73.74 nationwide. Shimane Prefecture in western Honshu had the highest rate at 155.17, followed by Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku at 146.01, ranking second. Tottori Prefecture, adjacent to Shimane, ranked third with 126.29.

Saitama Prefecture in the Tokyo metropolitan area had the lowest number of people aged 100 and over per 100,000 population at 44.79. Aichi Prefecture, where Nagoya is located, and Chiba Prefecture in the metropolitan area were also counted at around 50. The media explained, "The proportion of people aged 100 and over tends to be higher in rural areas with advanced aging and lower in major cities with many working-age people and children."

Japan's oldest person is 116-year-old woman Tatsumi Fusa, who lives in Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture. The oldest man is 111-year-old Sonobe Kisaburo, who lives in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to send commemorative gifts celebrating longevity to 47,107 people, including Japanese living overseas who turn 100 this year and foreign residents in Japan.

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