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THU, 5 NOV · 70 ITEMS
"Japan's births rise for first time in 11 years as fertility rate stays at record low 1.14" — Anadolu Agency · Japan
Japan reported a 0.4% year-on-year increase in the number of babies born to Japanese nationals during the first half of 2026, the first such rise in 11 years. However, the total —the average number of children per woman—remained at a record low of 1.14, indicating that the slight uptick in absolute birth numbers does not reverse the long-term decline in childbearing intensity. The increase may reflect temporary demographic factors such as a larger cohort of women in prime childbearing ages, but the fertility rate suggests the underlying trend remains stagnant or negative.
The claim is based on preliminary government data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as reported by Anadolu Agency and other reputable secondary outlets. The figures are official statistics and are solid for what they represent—first-half 2026 births among Japanese nationals—though they are preliminary and subject to revision.
The data covers the first half of 2026, and the reporting appeared in late August/early September 2026, making this genuinely new information.
We covered foreign births in Japan hitting a record high in 2025 (October 2026), a separate trend that contributes to overall birth numbers but is distinct from the Japanese-national births reported here.