HARIANEXPRESS – More than 30 percent of unmarried Japanese people aged 18 to 34 state they do not want children. This percentage represents the highest level ever recorded since the Japanese government started gathering this information in 2002.
The data stems from a survey managed by Japan’s National Institute of Population and Social Security Research up to June 2025. These results were published on Friday, September 11, 2026, as reported by TIMES Indonesia.
Decline in Desired Family Size
The study additionally revealed that the average expected number of children desired by respondents has dropped to a record low. Men indicated they desired an average of 1.30 children, whereas women reported an average of 1.36.
Among unmarried men, 33 percent expressed a lack of desire for children. This statistic marks a 9.8 percentage point increase compared to the prior survey carried out in 2021.
Simultaneously, 32.4 percent of unmarried women stated they did not want children, representing an 8.8 percentage point rise from the preceding survey. Experts noted that these shifts might connect to broader lifestyle diversification and evolving values across Japanese society.
Economic anxieties and financial worries could also impact the choices younger individuals make regarding parenthood. This ongoing survey regarding marriage and birth trends has taken place approximately every five years since 1940.
