TOKYO: The estimated number of people aged 65 or older in Japan stood at a record high of 36.27 million as of Thursday, rising by 60,000 from a year before and accounting for 29.1 pct of the nation’s total population, also the highest ever, the internal affairs ministry said Sunday.

The estimate, based on the 2020 census data and other information, was released ahead of Respect for the Aged Day on Monday, a national holiday.

Elderly men totaled 15.74 million, making up 26.0 pct of the total male population, while the number of elderly women came to 20.53 million, accounting for 32.0 pct of the overall female population.

The share of the elderly population has been increasing every year since 1950. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research expects the share to reach 35.3 pct of the total population in 2040, when the so-called second baby-boomer generation, or people born in 1971-1974 to postwar baby boomers, will be 65 or older.

Among 200 countries and regions in the world with population of 100,000 or more, Japan had the highest share of the elderly population. Italy came second with 24.1 pct, followed by Finland with 23.3 pct.

In 2021 in Japan, people aged 65 or older who were in the workforce came to a record high of 9.09 million, rising from the previous year for the 18th consecutive year.

Of all people aged 65 or older, those with jobs accounted for 25.1 pct, unchanged from 2020. The share of workers stood at 50.3 pct among people aged 65-69, topping 50 pct for the first time.

Of total workers aged 65 or older, those in the wholesale and retail industries made up the largest group, of 1.3 million, followed by 1.04 million people working in the agriculture and forestry sectors and 1.03 million people working in the services industry.

Of elderly workers, excluding corporate executives and self-employed people, 3.93 million, or 75.9 pct, had nonregular jobs, up by 2.25 million from a decade ago.

JIJI Press