The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released data on the 12th showing that the number of centenarians in Japan has set a new record for the 55th consecutive year, exceeding 99,000 people.
According to China News Service, as of the 12th, there are a total of 99,763 people in Japan who are 100 years old or above, an increase of 4,644 over last year. Among the centenarians, 87,784 are women, accounting for about 88%; men number 11,979.
Japan's Oldest Woman is 114 Years Old This Year
The oldest living person in Japan is Shizuko Kakawa, a woman aged 114 who lives in Yamato-Koriyama City, Nara Prefecture. The oldest man is Kiyotaka Mizuno, aged 111, who lives in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Nationwide, there are about 80 centenarians for every 100,000 people in Japan. In terms of population ratio, Shimane Prefecture has had the highest proportion of centenarians for 13 consecutive years, with about 169 per 100,000 people; Saitama Prefecture has had the lowest proportion for 36 consecutive years, with about 49 per 100,000.
Data shows that in 2024, the average life expectancy for Japanese women is 87.13 years, and for men it is 81.09 years.
Japan began this survey in 1963, when there were only 153 centenarians in the country. With improvements in medical care and nursing, the number of centenarians has been increasing year by year: surpassing 1,000 in 1981, exceeding 10,000 in 1998, and topping 90,000 in 2022.