The number of newborns in Japan fell below 700,000 for the first time since records began in 1899, according to government data, as younger people are reluctant to marry and raise children due to economic concern and a society that still adds extra burden only on women.
It isn’t. Not for long at least, as the last large countries are currently finishing their own demographic transition and starting to shrink themselves.
Is the world’s population still growing? Yes. But the growth rate peaked in the 60s, it’s cratering just as fast as it spiked, and by 2100 thereabouts there will be overall shrinkage.
Also before we get at the question whether Japan wants to have lots of immigration, what about the question whether those people wouldn’t rather build their own countries.
There’s nothing wrong with the world’s population shrinking – and also not with it growing, the earth is far from its carrying capacity. What’s frightening is very quick population growth or shrinkage because it’s an absolute breeding ground for all kinds of inequalities and societal unrest.