1.3 - Japan High Elderly Dependent Population

Question 1

Describe Japan’s current population structure (percentage and age wise)

Answer 1

• has an ageing population and its overall population is decreasing: has the oldest population in the world
• over 65s make up nearly 28%
• under 15s just 12.8%
• the average age is almost 47

Question 2

Why is Japan’s population structure changing (socioeconomic)?

Answer 2

• the average life expectancy has increased (81 for men and 88 for women)
• due to healthy diet and a good quality of life
• Japan is a very developed and rich country: good healthcare and welfare system (230 doctors for 100,000 people)
• since 1975 the population has been declining
• rise in average age at which women have their first child (from 25.6 in 1970 to 30 in 2012)
• number of couples has fallen and average marriage age has risen

Question 3

Describe Japan’s dependency ratio (2016)

Answer 3

• July 2016: 13% young, 60% economically active, 27% elderly
• 2016: every 100 workers had to support almost 69 people

Question 4

What does the age-sex pyramid of Japan show from 1950 - 2050 (name 5 points)

Answer 4

• fewer children growing up to be workers: dependency ratio gets worse
• more people will become pensioners since the post war baby bulge has reached the age of 65
• low birth rate and growth rate and high life expectancy
• 2016: growth rate of -0.19% : shrinking and old population
• 2055: expected to go from 126 million people in 2016 to 90 million people
• elderly expected to make up 41%
• children will save instead of spend on supporting them
• reduced spending already causing decreased prices
• Japanese will be unable to maintain high quality life if the dependency ratio worsens

Question 5

What problems has the small proportion of youth caused in Japan (education, defence, development)? (name 3 points)

Answer 5

• some underused schools and colleges have closed, so students have to travel further
• shortage of recruits for the armed forces has weakened Japan’s defence ability
• shortage of labour (innovative workers) caused high tech electronics to stagnate
• companies like Sony have increase pay rate to attract foreign workers
• high wages might deter foreign investment in the future

Question 6

What efforts has Japan implemented to increase their workforce?

Answer 6

• Robots are increasingly used in homes and care homes
  - lead exercising classes, substitute small pets
  - ongoing research into robotics
• Accepting an increasing number of skilled immigrants (from South Korea and the Philippines)
  - current policy is against further immigration, instead increase the use of robotics to compensate for fewer workers

Question 7

What policies has Japan implemented to cope with the increasing ageing population? (3)

Answer 7

1. Raised age of pensions from 60 to 65
   - aged 65+ made up a quarter of the workforce in 2015
2. Working population has to pay more in taxes
3. 2000: long-term care insurance scheme
   - allowing people to ensure future medical and care costs

Question 8

What policies has Japan implemented to meet the needs of the elderly population (for the elderly)? (name 2)

Answer 8

• increased access to specialist health care to cope with diseased elderly (cancer, dementia, arthritis, heart disease)
• elderly need adapted care homes, wheelchair accessible
• had to build more care homes and provide more health care
• not happening fast enough to meet demands