Japan's population declines
{{date|December 27, 2005}}

Japan's population declined by 19,000 in 2005 according to the government census, marking the first time it has shrunk since 1899, when it began keeping records. The decline is caused by the low birth rate of 1.29 children per woman.  The declining birth rate has been a concern for the island nation for the last few decades as it supports a larger elderly population; 20% of Japan's population is 65 or older.  As of October 1, the population was recorded at 127,757,000.
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=16464
|title=Japanese Population Declines For the First Time On Record
|author= Chisaki Watanabe (AP)
|pub=St. Petersburg Times
|date=December 23, 2005}}

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[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[es:Por primera vez desde 1899, la población de Japón desciende]]
[[ja:2005年国勢調査の速報値発表、日本の総人口は前の年より約2万人減少]]
[[pt:Pela primeira vez desde 1899 população do Japão diminui]]
Japan's population declined by 19,000 in 2005 according to the government census, marking the first time it has shrunk since 1899, when it began keeping records. The decline is caused by the low birth rate of 1.29 children per woman.  The declining birth rate has been a concern for the island nation for the last few decades as it supports a larger elderly population; 20% of Japan's population is 65 or older.  As of October 1, the population was recorded at 127,757,000.


es:Por primera vez desde 1899, la población de Japón desciende
ja:2005年国勢調査の速報値発表、日本の総人口は前の年より約2万人減少
Pela primeira vez desde 1899 população do Japão diminui
Japan Asia Politics and conflicts