Why are the birth rates in Japan so low?

Latief

Wikilatief Why? In Japan, both women and men have a tendency not to marry and have children. Why is that? 

For the Japanese to have that child is a big and expensive responsibility. Yes, expensive. However, I think this is all related to the traditions that occur in Japanese society.

Why is the birth rate in Japan so low?

Here are 4 things that affect the birth rate in Japan is very low:

Why is the birth rate in Japan so low?
A Japanese Couple
 (Source : Unsplash)

First, the Workaholic Japanese

We must all already know that Japanese people are hardworking. They are very disciplined and do their job in earnest. 

Most of their lives are spent just for work. It doesn't happen to just one or two people. All Japanese do the same.


Workaholic has become a Japanese tradition. They are more concerned with work than other life matters, especially when it comes to feeling love, finding a partner and having a family.

Understand tradition? Repetitive acts that occur in the community, and are done by many people. If the tradition is work-mad and unmarried, everyone will do the same.

Why is the birth rate in Japan so low?
Road spreading situation in Japan
 (Source : Unsplash)

Second, Pass-through Income

In my opinion, this is also related to tradition. Real income depends on needs and priorities in life. 

According to some stories, the real income in Japan is not that difficult, really. Income and outsanishment are almost equal.


One of the heavy costs in Japan is the cost of renting an expensive house. When a person grows up, around the age of the student, they no longer live with parents. They chose to live alone. 

Therefore, home is one of the priorities of the Japanese. It's certain their income will be greater absorbed for this.

Japanese people also prefer self-happiness and social life. It means like this, as crazy as the Japanese do the work, they also need refreshing. 

When they get the chance to take a vacation, they're going somewhere and doing hobbies. The income they collect will be used for things like this.

In addition, Japanese people also value social life with friends and co-workers. The culture of drunkenness in Japan is not only as entertainment, but also as a way of strengthening relations.

The point is priority. Getting married and having children are not Japanese priorities.

Why is the birth rate in Japan so low?
A japanese child Picture (Source : Unsplash)

Third, Children Cost a Lot of Money

In this case the Japanese thinking is more realistic. Still related to the points above. For Japanese people, having children must have an extra income. If it's just a normal income, it's impossible to take care of the child.

Having children is a big responsibility. If they cannot care for and provide a decent life, then the Japanese can be sentenced even if they are biological parents. 

Therefore, Japanese people are more realistic, it is better not to have children than not to be able to take care of them.


According to the story, the cost of education in Japan is very expensive. Many parents still have educational debts even after their children graduate from college. 

This becomes a burden on them and becomes one of the strong reasons for not having children. Whether it's true or not, I don't know either. However, the Japanese are not like that.

From a young age, they've decided to live alone. Then they have to take care of themselves including having children.

Why is the birth rate in Japan so low?
Japanese students (Source : Unsplash)

Fourth, Patriarchal Culture

In Japan, the crocodile patriarchy is still thickly felt. The position of the male is still clearly the terrace higher up the female. 

When a working woman is married and has children, she is expected to stay home taking care of children at all times. Almost 90% of household affairs are taken care of by women.

This is because women have to quit their jobs, all household affairs depend only on the opinion of their men / husbands. 

Therefore, if you do not have extra propriety, it is very difficult to bear household and child affairs.

Why don't women just work then? Companies in Japan don't like to hire women who have children because they will have a lot of permits, maternity cuts, sick children, etc. 

This will affect the company's activities and progress. If they insist on working, they will hire nurses for children, or put children in daycare. All of that cost a lot of money.

It is also tradition for women in Japan that higher education, and career are number one. The consequences of being a big housewife make them not prioritize getting married or even having children.

The question that must have come to your mind is how is the Japanese romantic and sexual life?

Yes, just like humans in general, they also have inter-sex interfaith love and chaining. But most of them don't develop such a serious squeeze of love. 

Life there is arguably "quite free" in terms of sexuality. There's no need to be in a serious bind to enjoy that. 

For some who want to have a partner / married, it is not uncommon to decide to live together without children. That is why the birth rate in Japan is low.


For the sake of things that I think become a tradition in Japan and affect the low birth rate of babies.
Why are the birth rates in Japan so low?

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