There is 35.8 million elderly people, an update shows a new height of 28.4% - the highest in the world

Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

高齢者3588万人で最多更新 28.4％は世界で最高

2019年9月16日 4時35分

16日は「敬老の日」です。総務省の推計によりますと、日本の65歳以上の高齢者は3588万人で過去最多を更新し、総人口に占める割合も過去最高の28.4％で、世界で最も高くなっています。

総務省が発表した15日現在の人口推計によりますと、日本の65歳以上の高齢者は3588万人で、去年に比べて32万人増え、過去最多を更新しました。

また、総人口に占める高齢者の割合も、去年より0.3ポイント増えて、過去最高の28.4％となりました。これは、国連のデータで見ると世界で最も高く、日本に次いで高いイタリアの23.0％や、ポルトガルの22.4％を５ポイント以上も上回っています。

国立社会保障・人口問題研究所の推計では、この割合は今後も上昇を続け、2025年には30％となり、2040年には35.3％になると見込まれています。

一方、働く高齢者の数は去年862万人で、働く人全体に占める割合は12.9％で、いずれも過去最高を更新しました。

また、高齢者の就業率は24.3％で、10年前に比べて５ポイント近く増え、主要国の中でも高い水準となっています。

Translation

The  “Respect the Aged Day” was on the 16th. According to an estimate by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of elderly people aged over of 65 in Japan reached a record high of 35.88 million, and the ratio to the total population was 28.4%, being the highest in the world.

According to the population estimate announced on the 15th by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there were 35.88 million elderly people in Japan aged over 65, an increase of 320,000 compared to last year, and was a record high.

In addition, the ratio of elderly people to the total population increased by 0.3 points from last year, reaching a record high of 28.4%. This was the highest in the world in terms of data from the United Nations, surpassing 23.0% in Italy which was the second highest after Japan, and 22.4% in Portugal by over 5 points.

According to estimates from the National Institute of Population and Social Security, this percentage would continue to rise, reaching 30% in 2025 and 35.3% in 2040.

On the other hand, the number of working senior citizens was 8.62 million last year, accounting for 12.9% of the total number of working people, both of them were setting new records.

The employment rate for the elderly was 24.3%, an increase of nearly 5 points compared to 10 years ago, which was a high level among major countries.

     So, the number of old age people is increasing in Japan. Obviously, it will create burden on the society in the terms of medial care and social welfare. I think one solution to this problem is to let in more immigrants.