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Births in Japan hit record low as government warns crisis at ‘critical state’ (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Birthrate continues to fall as young people increasingly reluctant to have children due to bleak job prospects, cost of living and work culture

The number of babies born in Japan last year fell for an eighth straight year to a new low, government data has shown, and a top official says it is critical for the country to reverse the trend in the coming half-dozen years.

The 758,631 babies born in Japan in 2023 were a 5.1% decline from the previous year, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry on Tuesday. It was the lowest number of births since Japan started compiling the statistics in 1899.

The number of marriages fell by 5.9% to 489,281 couples, falling below a half million for the first time in 90 years – one of the key reasons for the declining births. Out-of-wedlock births are rare in Japan because of family values based on a paternalistic tradition.

Surveys show that many younger Japanese balk at marrying or having families, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living that rises at a faster pace than salaries and corporate cultures that are not compatible with having both parents work. Crying babies and children playing outside are increasingly considered a nuisance, and many young parents say they often feel isolated.

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[–] [email protected] -2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

We are the only known intelligent life in the universe and that's worth preserving, even if we're not perfect. And unlike a meteor or supervolcano, humanity can learn and improve. And I think we are, hopefully we reach a point where we can live sustainably on earth before it's too late.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

i'm with you bro, and im a total misanthrope. I've developed a love/hate relationship with my species though, and i don't blame most of us for the misery a scant few have created and continue to propagate. I wanna see us succeed, but insofar as making kids is concerned that's not how i'll contribute. Even the human act of having children has been commodified and leveraged against us. A human will put up with far more if he has a child at home to provide for after all.

you'll need to make up 2 extra kids for my wife and me, can you help us out? We wanted kids, but we looked around at the world, and we said uhhhh HARD no

[–] [email protected] -4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

We aren't intelligent. We're killing ourselves and every living thing we touch.