Population of Japanese nationals dips below 120 million for first time in 42 years

TOKYO - The number of Japanese nationals fell below 120 million for the first time in 42 years to 119,736,483 at the start of this year, the government said Wednesday, underscoring the challenges faced by a nation battling declining birth rates.

The figure as of Jan 1 marked a drop of 917,000 people from a year earlier, marking the largest fall since comparable data became available in 1968, Kyodo News reported, citing data by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.

The number of foreign residents, meanwhile, rose 354,000 to a record 4,031,159. The ministry began compiling relevant data in 2013. - BERNAMA