Japan has record 100,000 people aged over 100: How societies are ageing

Japan is home to over 100,000 centenarians, reaching a record total of 107,677 people aged 100 or older, according to the Ministry of Health. Women account for nearly 88% of this total. However, this longevity comes with a demographic imbalance, as the elderly population grows while the birth rate declines, leading to a shrinking workforce and increasing challenges for the pension and healthcare systems.