TOKYO –
People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan’s population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan’s population aged 65 and older was estimated at 36.24 million as of September 15, an increase of 20,000 from 2025.
Their share of the total population rose to a record 29.6%.
Among 39 countries with populations exceeding 40 million, Japan had by far the highest proportion of residents aged 65 or older. Italy ranked second at 25.6%, followed by Germany at 24.2%.
The number of people aged 65 and older who were working reached a record 9.43 million, marking the 22nd consecutive annual increase.
The employment rate among elderly people stood at 26%, meaning roughly one in four people aged 65 and older remained in the workforce.
Source: FNN
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