- Japan's population was 123.8 million; 36.24 million people (29.3%) were aged 65 or over
- 20.78 million people (16.8%) were 75 or over — more than the 65–74 group
- By 2070, about 1 in 2.6 people is projected to be 65 or over, and about 1 in 4 to be 75 or over
- More older people are working, mainly for income
The report at a glance
- Original title
- 令和7年版 高齢社会白書
- Publisher
- Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
- Published
- June 2025 (figures as at 1 October 2024)
- Language
- Japanese; English summary available
- Access
- Free, no registration
Key numbers and findings
| Group (1 October 2024) | People | Share of population |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 123.8 million | — |
| Aged 65 and over | 36.24 million | 29.3% |
| Aged 65–74 | 15.47 million | 12.5% |
| Aged 75 and over | 20.78 million | 16.8% |
The white paper projects that by 2070 around one person in 2.6 will be 65 or over and around one in four will be 75 or over. It also reports that employment among older people continues to rise, with income the main reason given for working, and it profiles local initiatives such as job matching for seniors and smartphone classes.
What it means for companies entering Japan
Almost a third of Japanese consumers are over 65, and they hold a large share of household assets. For many categories — travel, health and wellness, food, financial services, home and beauty — the senior customer is not a niche but the core market.
It also changes how you communicate. Readable type, phone support, clear pricing and trusted channels (television and print still matter for this group) are part of localisation in Japan. On the staffing side, the same numbers explain why the labour shortage features in almost every survey of foreign companies there.
How to read the original
The full Japanese edition is split into chapters with downloadable charts. The Cabinet Office also publishes an English summary of each year's report, which covers the headline demographics.
Open the white paper (Japanese) ↗
This is an independent summary by Japan Business Insider. Figures are taken from the original publication; the interpretation in “Our reading” is our own. Please check the original before quoting figures.