The vanishing children of Japan

The Japan Times Online - Advanced Search

From the above:

The number of children in Japan has been falling for 25 years straight, highlighting the country's aging population and declining birthrate, an annual government survey showed Thursday....

Children 14 and under now make up 13.7 percent the population, down from 13.8 percent a year ago, hitting a record low and declining for the 32nd year in a row. Meanwhile, people aged over 65 account for a record-high 20.4 percent....

The percentage of young children to the overall population in Japan ranks even lower than other aging societies, including Italy, where such children make up 14.2 percent of the population, and Germany and Spain, both of which stand at 14.5 percent, according to the most recent figures.

Must be less and less need for primary school teachers every year.

These are awful figures, which the government will have to deal with in a serious way soon.