By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Almost 40,000 People Died Alone in Japanese Homes in First Half of 2024, Report Reveals
Nearly 40,000 people in Japan died alone in their homes during the first half of 2024, according to a report by the National Police Agency. Of this number, nearly 4,000 were discovered more than a month after their deaths, and 130 bodies remained unnoticed for an entire year before being found.
Japan's Aging Population at the Center of the Crisis
Japan, which has the world’s oldest population according to the United Nations, is grappling with a growing issue of elderly individuals living and dying alone. The National Police Agency's data for the first half of 2024 shows that 37,227 people living alone were found dead at home, with those aged 65 and older making up more than 70% of these cases.
Delayed Discoveries Highlight the Severity of the Issue
The report found that while around 40% of these individuals were discovered within a day of their deaths, nearly 3,939 bodies were found over a month later, and 130 bodies had gone unnoticed for at least a year. The largest group of deceased, totaling 7,498, were aged 85 and above, followed by 5,920 individuals aged 75 to 79, and 5,635 aged 70 to 74.
Government Response to the Growing Loneliness Epidemic
Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the police agency plans to present its findings to a government group investigating unattended deaths. Earlier this year, the Japanese National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected that the number of elderly citizens (aged 65 and above) living alone could reach 10.8 million by 2050. The overall number of single person households is expected to rise to 23.3 million by that year.
A Nationwide Effort to Combat Loneliness and Isolation
In response to the country’s long standing issues of loneliness and isolation, exacerbated by an aging population, the Japanese government introduced a bill in April aimed at addressing these challenges. Despite efforts to counteract its aging and declining population, Japan is finding it increasingly difficult to manage the demographic shift. Last year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that the country is on the brink of being unable to function as a society due to its declining birth rate.
Regional Implications of Demographic Challenges
Japan is not alone in facing such demographic challenges; neighboring countries like China and South Korea are also grappling with similar issues. In 2022, China’s population declined for the first time since 1961, while South Korea continues to report the world’s lowest fertility rate.
