Japan Now Has More Than 100,000 People Over the Age of 100

Japan's health ministry reported 107,677 people aged 100 or over, the highest number in the world and a 56th consecutive annual increase since 1971, with 88% female. The growth reflects a shift from 153 centenarians in 1963 to around 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012, attributed to nutrient-dense local diets, physical activity, and strong community ties that define the region as one of five official Blue Zones.

Japan's centenarian growth coincides with a demographic crisis: people aged 65+ now account for 30% of the population, expected to approach 40% by 2070, amid a declining birthrate the government has called an 'existential crisis.'