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Japan Passes 100,000 Centenarians for First Time
(MENAFN) Japan has crossed a historic threshold: more than 100,000 of its citizens are now aged 100 or older, according to local media reports published Tuesday.
Government data show the centenarian population climbed to a record 107,677 as of September 1 — a jump of 7,914 from the previous year. The milestone marks the 56th straight year the figure has risen, according to a news agency, which cited statistics from Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
Women make up the overwhelming majority of this group, accounting for 87.6% of all centenarians nationwide.
The upward trend shows no signs of slowing. The news agency reports that an additional 54,294 people are projected to reach their 100th birthday during fiscal year 2026 — nearly 2,000 more than turned 100 the year before. Nationally, Japan now counts roughly 87.51 centenarians for every 100,000 residents.
Two individuals currently hold the title of Japan's oldest living citizens. Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, a resident of Kyoto born on December 20, 1911, is the nation's oldest woman. Hikaru Kato, 112, of Kumamoto, born May 2, 1914, holds the record among men.
The scale of the shift becomes clear when measured against history. When Japan first began tracking centenarians in 1963, only 153 people nationwide had reached the century mark. That number broke 1,000 in 1981, surpassed 10,000 in 1998, and hit 50,000 in 2012 — before more than doubling to today's figure.
The surge reflects Japan's broader longevity trends: average life expectancy in the country stood at 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men in 2025.
Government data show the centenarian population climbed to a record 107,677 as of September 1 — a jump of 7,914 from the previous year. The milestone marks the 56th straight year the figure has risen, according to a news agency, which cited statistics from Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
Women make up the overwhelming majority of this group, accounting for 87.6% of all centenarians nationwide.
The upward trend shows no signs of slowing. The news agency reports that an additional 54,294 people are projected to reach their 100th birthday during fiscal year 2026 — nearly 2,000 more than turned 100 the year before. Nationally, Japan now counts roughly 87.51 centenarians for every 100,000 residents.
Two individuals currently hold the title of Japan's oldest living citizens. Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, a resident of Kyoto born on December 20, 1911, is the nation's oldest woman. Hikaru Kato, 112, of Kumamoto, born May 2, 1914, holds the record among men.
The scale of the shift becomes clear when measured against history. When Japan first began tracking centenarians in 1963, only 153 people nationwide had reached the century mark. That number broke 1,000 in 1981, surpassed 10,000 in 1998, and hit 50,000 in 2012 — before more than doubling to today's figure.
The surge reflects Japan's broader longevity trends: average life expectancy in the country stood at 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men in 2025.
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