Japan Has More Than 100,000 Centenarians for First Time

9 hours ago 5

September 15, 2026 | 07:29 pm

Japanese residents in Tokyo. Photo: Shutterstock

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japan’s population aged 100 and older surpassed 100,000 for the first time, reaching 107,677 as of September 1, 2026, according to the country’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as cited by Anadolu.

The number of centenarians rose by 7,914 from a year earlier, marking the 56th consecutive year of growth, Kyodo News reported. Women accounted for 87.6 percent of the total, or about 94,300 people.

Another 54,294 people are expected to turn 100 in fiscal 2026, up 1,984 from the previous year.

Japan is among the world’s longest-living countries, with average life expectancy in 2025 reaching 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men. Scientists have linked the country’s longevity to factors including diet and its advanced healthcare system.

Japan is now home to some of the world’s oldest people. As quoted by CNN, Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old woman from Kyoto, is the country’s oldest woman, while Hikaru Kato, a 112-year-old man from Kumamoto, is the oldest man.

The rise in longevity, however, comes as Japan faces a declining population, a shrinking workforce and growing costs for elderly care. The country’s population of about 123 million continues to fall as its birth rate remains at a record low.

Japan had only 153 centenarians in 1963, when the government began collecting data. The number surpassed 50,000 in 2012.

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