Japan births in 2024 fell below 700,000 for first time

The fast-ageing nation welcomed 686,061 newborns in 2024 -- 41,227 fewer than in 2023, the data showed. It was the lowest figure since records began in 1899. Japan has the world's second-oldest population after tiny Monaco, according to the World Bank. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called the situation a "quiet emergency", pledging family-friendly measures like more flexible working hours to try and reverse the trend. Wednesday's health ministry data showed that Japan's total fertility rate...