ambassador
10-21-2007, 07:02 PM
Declining population could undermine foundation of communities: white paper
Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 07:18 EDT TOKYO — An upcoming government white paper warns that Japan may need to brace itself for a possible collapse in the foundations of communities in some areas in the face of the declining birthrate and aging population, government sources said Friday.
The 2007 white paper on the declining birthrate warns that it could become difficult for communities that are already thinly populated to ensure security, fire safety and other activities maintained by local residents, threatening the foundations of communities. The white paper underlines the need for strengthened efforts to maintain the work-life balance throughout society and to provide effective financial support for countermeasures to stem the falling birthrate.
Japan's total population is expected to plunge below the 90-million mark in 2055, compared with about 127 million in 2006, and one in 2.5 people will be 65 years or older in that year.
Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 07:18 EDT TOKYO — An upcoming government white paper warns that Japan may need to brace itself for a possible collapse in the foundations of communities in some areas in the face of the declining birthrate and aging population, government sources said Friday.
The 2007 white paper on the declining birthrate warns that it could become difficult for communities that are already thinly populated to ensure security, fire safety and other activities maintained by local residents, threatening the foundations of communities. The white paper underlines the need for strengthened efforts to maintain the work-life balance throughout society and to provide effective financial support for countermeasures to stem the falling birthrate.
Japan's total population is expected to plunge below the 90-million mark in 2055, compared with about 127 million in 2006, and one in 2.5 people will be 65 years or older in that year.