In 2021, the average number of people aged 65 and older in Japan amounted to approximately 0.71 per household. Figures indicated an increase compared to 2012 but have stabilized in recent years.
The current situation of long-term care in Japan
Japan launched long-term care insurance (LTCI) in 2000, a mandatory program funded by all citizens over 40. While contributions are based on individual income, the LTCI’s benefits are equal for everyone. They are exclusively provided to persons aged 65 and over in need of long-term care, or to people aged 40 and over who suffer from aging-related diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease. Japanese municipalities are responsible for licensing service providers and setting premiums. At the same time, the Japanese healthcare system has been struggling to respond to the continuously increasing share of citizens aged 65 and over, with declining birth rates and one of the highest life expectancies in the world. The system faces persistent problems, such as low capacities of intensive and long-term care facilities for the elderly, a health worker shortage, and understaffed facilities.
Health workers and foreign nurses in Japan
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan predicts a shortage of around 300 thousand health workers by 2025 despite a steadily increasing number of certified care workers over the past decade. This is said to be partially attributable to low wages and severe working conditions. As a countermeasure, the country has begun expanding its labor market to other Asian countries and started Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam in 2008 and 2009. Applicants are required to have worked as a nurse for two years before coming to Japan. Foreign nurses must pass a state examination within their four years of residency that are permitted to become a licensed nurse in Japan. With the exam being held entirely in Japanese, an immense disparity in passing rates between Japanese and foreign examinees became apparent. It can be seen as one indicator as to why the majority of foreign nurses who had come to Japan in 2008 have since returned to their home countries.
Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021
Adjust the presentation of the statistic and data points.
Share the statistic on social media channels or embed the statistic in your
website using "Embed Code", where available.
Cite this statistic and select one of the following formats: APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA & Bluebook.
Print the statistic including description and metadata.
Chart type
Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021
Share this statistic
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Statista has been my savior on several occasions.
The site is easy to maneuver and the data is in a format that can
go right into a report or presentation.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
e-Stat (Japan). (August 5, 2022). Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/
e-Stat (Japan). "Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021." Chart. August 5, 2022. Statista. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/
e-Stat (Japan). (2022). Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/
e-Stat (Japan). "Average Number of People Aged 65 and Older per Household in Japan from 2012 to 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Aug 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/
e-Stat (Japan), Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/ (last visited February 22, 2025)
Average number of people aged 65 and older per household in Japan from 2012 to 2021 [Graph], e-Stat (Japan), August 5, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171485/japan-average-number-of-persons-65-years-and-over-per-household/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.