May 5

On a national holiday dedicated to children, the latest data shows Japan's child population has dropped for the 42nd straight year.

The internal affairs ministry estimates that the number of children aged 14 or younger was 14.35 million as of April 1, down 300,000 from the previous year. Of the total, boys accounted for 7.35 million and girls 7 million.

The figure has continued to shrink since 1982.

There were 3.21 million children aged between 12 and 14, while 3.08 million were aged 9 to 11, 2.96 million aged 6 to 8, 2.67 million aged 3 to 5, and 2.43 million aged 0 to 2.

The ratio of children in the total population also fell to 11.5 percent, marking the 49th consecutive year of decline.

By prefecture, Okinawa had the highest overall share of children at 16.3 percent as of October last year, followed by Shiga and Saga at 13.2 percent, and Kumamoto at 13 percent.

Akita Prefecture had the lowest rate at 9.3 percent, followed by Aomori at 10.2 percent and Hokkaido at 10.3 percent.

In its latest estimate released last month, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research forecast that Japan's child population will fall below 10 million in 2053. It also estimates the figure will drop to 7.97 million, or 9.2 percent of the total population, in 2070.

Japan celebrates Children's Day on May 5.

NHK