连续21年刷新纪录，日本再成全球老龄化最严重国家

Core Viewpoint - Japan is facing a severe aging population crisis, with 29.4% of its population aged 65 and older, the highest in the world, and projections indicating this could rise to 37.1% by 2050 [4][7]. Group 1: Aging Population Statistics - As of the latest data, Japan has 36.19 million people aged 65 and older, marking a historical high [4]. - The number of people aged 70 and above is 29.01 million, while those aged 75 and above total 21.24 million [7]. - The population aged 100 and above is nearing 100,000, with a year-on-year increase of 4,644 individuals [7]. Group 2: Employment Trends Among the Elderly - The number of employed individuals aged 65 and older has reached 9.3 million, an increase of 160,000 from the previous year, marking a record high for 21 consecutive years [7]. - Elderly workers now represent 13.7% of the total workforce, indicating that one in seven workers is aged 65 or older [7]. - Employment rates for those aged 65-69 stand at 53%, while 35% for those aged 70-74, and 12% for those aged 75 and above [7]. Group 3: Government Policies and Labor Shortages - The Japanese government has revised the "Elderly Employment Stability Law" to improve working conditions for older employees and mitigate rising workplace injury risks [8]. - A report from Oxford Economics highlights the urgent need for Japan to reform its immigration policies to address labor shortages exacerbated by an aging population [10]. - The number of foreign residents in Japan increased by 350,000 in 2024, a 10.5% rise, marking the largest increase since records began in 2013 [10]. Group 4: Public Sentiment and Political Landscape - The issue of immigration has become a focal point in Japanese elections, with mixed public sentiments ranging from concerns about foreign students to criticisms of government policies favoring foreigners [11]. - The current political climate shows a trend towards more conservative immigration policies, with potential candidates advocating for stricter measures against foreign workers [11].