Japan’s demographic crisis is deepening faster than expected, with the number of births this year on track to fall below even the government’s most pessimistic projections.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20251228215131/https://slguardian.org/japans-birth-rate-set-to-break-even-the-bleakest-forecasts/


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[–] 21 points 10 months ago* (5 children)

There are three solutions to adjusting the so-called 'replacement rate:'

  • Reduce death rate (ie improve health outcomes for elderly to extend lifespan).
  • Make more babies.
  • Allow immigration.

Options 1 and 2 haven't worked too well, and option 3 can cause a lot of political issues.

Not sure there's a good way to avert the end-game.

Edit: actually there are two other solutions: cloning, and senecide (killing the elderly). It's dystopian SciFi and totally unethical, but they're there.

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  • [–] 10 points 10 months ago

    I'd argue that Japan has historically done pretty well at the first. I don't find the healthcare system here perfect, but I have many elderly in-laws who get great care. There's probably going to be a decline in quality and/or availability as the issues persist, though.

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  • [+] -17 points 10 months ago (3 children)

    3 leads to more than just "political issues", you are replacing your country's people and culture with others that will in all likelihood have far higher birth rates

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  • [–] 7 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    Not "replacing" unless you bring in like 50k+ immigrants per year and give them disproportionate power over everything. Immigrants bring their culture, but they're always the ones who have to adapt.

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