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Japan Birthrate Hits Record Low: Chores Don't Matter?
15 Nov
Summary
- Japan's birthrate hit a new low in 2025 with 671,000 births.
- Household labor division doesn't predict fertility in Japan.
- Pronatalist policies failed as birthrate continues to fall.
Japan's birthrate has continued its downward trend, recording a mere 671,000 births in 2025, the lowest figure ever. This marks the tenth consecutive year of decline, signaling a persistent demographic challenge.
Contrary to prevailing assumptions, a recent survey by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) suggests that the division of household labor does not influence fertility decisions. The study of nearly 700 Japanese respondents found that women who perceived an unfair distribution of chores desired just as many children as those who felt the division was equitable.
This finding directly contrasts with over a decade of Japanese pronatalist policy, which centered on advancing women in the workplace and encouraging men's participation in domestic duties and childcare. Initiatives like 'Womenomics' and the 'Ikumen Project' have not halted the declining birthrate, which has fallen to a level previously expected much later.
