Tokyo, Japan – The number of centenarians in Japan has reached a record 99,763, marking the 55th consecutive year of increase, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced Friday ahead of the Respect for the Aged Day holiday.
According to the ministry, the figure rose by 4,644 compared to last year, reflecting Japan’s position as one of the world’s fastest-aging societies.
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Women make up the overwhelming majority, accounting for 87,784 centenarians, while men number 11,979.
The nation’s oldest living person is Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old woman from Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture. The oldest man is Kiyotaka Mizuno, aged 111, from Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture.
On average, there are 80.58 centenarians per 100,000 people nationwide. Shimane Prefecture continues to top the list for longevity, with 168.69 per 100,000 residents, maintaining its lead for the 13th consecutive year.
Japan began keeping official records of centenarians in 1963, when there were only 153. The number surpassed 1,000 in 1981 and exceeded 10,000 in 1998, reflecting decades of steady growth.
The ministry also reported that the average life expectancy in 2024 stood at 87.13 years for women and 81.09 years for men.
Japan’s rising centenarian population highlights both medical advances and social challenges, as the country grapples with an aging society and the need for sustainable elderly care systems.
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