OddsFrontJapan’s centenarian population surpasses 100,000 for the first time
The milestone reflects exceptional longevity but also underscores the fiscal and care demands created by Japan’s ageing and shrinking population.
A new longevity milestone
Japan now has 107,677 people aged 100 or older, taking its centenarian population above 100,000 for the first time, according to health-ministry figures reported by the BBC. The total increased for a 56th consecutive year and is nearly eight thousand higher than in 2025. Women account for 94,298 of the centenarians, or 87.6%, while 13,379 are men.
The oldest woman listed by the ministry is 114-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto. The oldest man is Hikaru Kato, aged 112, from Kumamoto. Japan counted only 153 centenarians when the national survey began in 1963. The total passed 1,000 in 1981 and 10,000 in 1998, illustrating how rapidly survival into very old age has changed from an exceptional outcome into a major demographic category.
Longevity meets population decline
The milestone is a public-health achievement, linked by officials to medical progress and improved living conditions. It also arrives as Japan’s overall population continues to contract. A larger oldest-old population increases demand for pensions, medical services, long-term care and accessible housing while the pool of working-age contributors shrinks. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno identified the sustainability of social security as a central challenge.
The gender gap matters
The overwhelming female share of the centenarian population has direct policy implications. A 2026 UN policy brief on ageing says older women globally have a higher burden of neurological conditions, including dementia, while longer female life expectancy often means more years without support from a spouse. The same report frames ageing as an intergenerational economic issue because changing age structures alter the balance among workers, caregivers, taxpayers and recipients of public support.
What to watch next
The immediate questions are how Japan finances long-term care, retains older workers who want to remain employed and uses migration or productivity gains to offset labour shortages. Officials will also face continued scrutiny of registry accuracy: a 2010 audit found many people recorded as centenarians who could not be located. The current total is based on the Basic Resident Register, making verification practices important alongside the headline number.