Key facts
- Japan's centenarian population reached a record 107,677 in September.
- This marks the 56th consecutive year of growth in the centenarian population.
- Women comprise 87.6% of centenarians, totaling 94,298 individuals.
- Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is the oldest woman, and Hikaru Kato, 112, is the oldest man.
- The average number of centenarians per 100,000 people in Japan is 87.51.
The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan reached a record high of 107,677 in September, climbing for the 56th consecutive year, according to data from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. This marks the first time the total number of centenarians has surpassed 100,000, with an increase of 7,914 from the previous year.
Women account for a significant majority of this demographic, making up 87.6% with 94,298 individuals. The figures, compiled based on the basic resident register as of September 1, showed growth in both male and female centenarians, with 1,400 more men and 6,514 more women reaching the milestone.
Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, is identified as the oldest woman, while Hikaru Kato, a 112-year-old man from Kumamoto, is the oldest man. The average number of centenarians per 100,000 people in Japan was recorded at 87.51.
Historically, Japan had only 153 centenarians in 1963 when data collection began. The number surpassed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012, demonstrating a consistent upward trend.