Japan has become the first country in the world to surpass 100,000 centenarians, reaching 107,677 people aged 100 or older as of 1 September. The total, the highest national population of centenarians in the world, marks the 56th consecutive year in which the number has risen.
The milestone reflects decades of longer lives and healthcare advances. It also brings Japan's demographic imbalance into clearer view. The country faces a falling birth rate, limited migration and population decline across most of its prefectures, while the share of older residents continues to rise.
The number of centenarians increased by 7,914 from the previous year. Women account for 88% of the total, although the available figures do not explain the reasons for that disparity.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was 'delighted that so many people are living long, healthy and active lives'.
Japan has tracked its centenarian population since 1963, when there were 153 people aged 100 or older. The total reached 1,000 in 1981 and 10,000 by 1998. It has now crossed six figures for the first time this year.
The oldest woman in Japan is Kishimoto Fuyo, a 114-year-old from Kyoto City. The oldest man is Kato Hikaru, a 112-year-old from Kumamoto.
The figures have also required official scrutiny in the past. A government audit of family registries in Japan in 2010 found more than 230,000 people recorded as aged 100 or older who could not be accounted for.
Japan's wider population trend runs in the opposite direction. Its total population is estimated to fall to 87 million by 2070, a 30% decline from its peak of 128 million in 2008.
People aged 65 and older currently account for around 30% of the population. Their share is expected to reach nearly 40% by 2070, increasing the weight of an older population as the overall number of residents falls.
The total fertility rate dropped to a record low of 1.14 last year. In 2025, Japan's total population decreased in all 47 prefectures but two. Foreigners make up around 3% of the population.
The centenarian record therefore captures two movements at once: a sustained rise in the number of people living beyond 100, and a longer-term contraction in the generations below them. The available data show the scale of both trends, while leaving open the question of how Japan will address population loss alongside a growing share of older residents.
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