JAPAN’S DECLINING BIRTH RATES: FROM POST-WAR BOOM TO RECORD LOWS – A 70-YEAR TRENDJapan’s total fertility rate (TFR, average children per woman) has plummeted since the 1950s, dropping from over 3.6 in 1950 to around 1.2–1.3 in recent years—far below the 2.1 replacement level needed for population stability. This long-term decline has accelerated in recent decades, driven by a mix of economic, social, and cultural factors.Key reasons for the ongoing decline include:•Economic pressures — Stagnant wages, high ...