Japan has shattered a demographic milestone: more than 107,000 people aged 100 and older now live in the country, according to data released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
This marks the first time the nation's centenarian population has crossed the 100,000 mark, representing an increase of 7,914 people compared to last year.
As of September 1, exactly 107,677 people aged 100 and over are living in Japan. Women constitute the overwhelming majority of this population, 94,298 women, representing approximately 87.6% of all centenarians in the country. The centenarian population has now grown for 56 consecutive years.
The scale of this growth becomes clear when viewed historically. When the government first began tracking centenarians in 1963, only 153 people in the country had reached that age. The number crossed 10,000 in 1998 and surpassed 50,000 in 2012.
The rise in centenarian numbers is attributed to a combination of factors, including accessible healthcare, improved living conditions, and a traditional diet rich in fish, vegetables, and soy-based foods. An active lifestyle and low mortality rates from certain diseases have also contributed over the years to increased life expectancy.
