Japan’s population falls for a 15th year with record low births and record high deaths

Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s total population has declined for the 15th straight year. That’s according to government data released Thursday. The population dropped by more than a half-million people as the population ages and births remain low. Births in Japan hit a record low last year, and deaths were a record high. Japan’s population was 124.9 million as of Jan. 1. Surveys show that younger Japanese are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children. The new data also shows an 11% increase in foreign residents. Their population has surpassed 3 million for the first time.