World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Japan births rise for first time in 11 years in first half of 2026
Japan recorded 320,458 births in the first half of 2026, a 0.4% rise from the same period a year earlier.
The increase was the first year-on-year rise for a first half in 11 years.
The figures cover babies born in Japan; one tally specifies babies born to Japanese nationals.
Japan is one of the world’s fastest-aging societies, and its government has been trying to slow a long decline in births.
Experts said more marriages in 2024 and 2025 may have helped lift the latest total.
Even so, births remain close to the previous year’s annual low of about 670,000, and the decline has moved faster than a 2023 projection expected.
The small rise does not yet reverse Japan’s longer-term birth decline; no further steps or figures are specified.
The number of babies born to Japanese nationals in Japan rose 0.4 percent year on year to 320,458 in January-June 2026.
It was the first year-on-year increase for a first half in 11 years, according to government data.
Experts said the rise may have been supported by an increase in marriages in 2024 and 2025.
The previous year's annual total was around 670,000, the lowest on record.
The decline in births has progressed faster than a 2023 government research institute projection anticipated.
- Who
- Babies born to Japanese nationals in Japan.
- What
- Births rose 0.4 percent year on year to 320,458 in the first half of 2026.
- When
- January-June 2026; the data was reported on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- Experts said the rise may have been supported by an increase in marriages in 2024 and 2025.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected annual births would fall below 680,000 by 2040.
Experts said an increase in marriages in these years may have supported the rise in births.
Births rose 0.4 percent year on year to 320,458.
Government data on the first-half increase was reported.
- Births in January-June 2026
- 320,458
- Year-on-year change
- Up 0.4 percent
- First-half trend
- First year-on-year increase in 11 years
- Previous year's annual total
- Around 670,000, the lowest on record
- Research institute projection
- Annual births below 680,000 by 2040, projected in 2023