This article reports on the results of the 2024 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, revealing the latest trends in Japan's household structure, elderly households, income status, and living consciousness.
Key Points
Increase in Single-person Households and Changes in Household Structure
- Single-person households reached 18.995 million, accounting for 34.6% of all households, with both the number and percentage hitting record highs
- Total number of households was 54.703 million, an increase of 167,000 from the previous year
- Three-generation households decreased to 1.731 million (3.2%), significantly down from 15.3% in 1986
- Average household size hit a record low of 2.20 persons, continuously decreasing from 3.22 persons in 1986
Status of Households with Members Aged 65 or Older
- Households with members aged 65 or older reached 27.597 million, exceeding half of all households at 50.4% for the first time
- Elderly households (households consisting only of persons aged 65 or older, or with unmarried persons under 18) numbered 17.207 million
- Among elderly households, single-person households accounted for 9.031 million (52.5%), and couple-only households for 7.498 million (43.6%)
- In single-person households aged 65 or older, men accounted for 36.0% and women for 64.0%
Family Structure of Persons Aged 65 or Older
- There were 40.326 million persons aged 65 or older, with the largest group being those in "couple-only households" at 16.284 million (40.4%)
- Those "living with children" numbered 13.346 million (33.1%), and those in "single-person households" numbered 9.031 million (22.4%)
- As age increases, the proportion of men "living with married children" increases
- For women, the proportions of both "single-person households" and "living with married children" tend to increase with age
Decline in Households with Children
- Households with children (unmarried persons under 18) numbered 9.074 million, declining to 16.6% of all households
- Households with one child numbered 4.329 million (47.7%), and those with two children numbered 3.556 million (39.2%)
- In terms of household structure, "couple with unmarried children only" accounted for 7.183 million households (79.2%), the largest share
- Child-rearing in three-generation households decreased to 975,000 households (10.7%)
Severity of Living Consciousness
- Households perceiving their living conditions as "difficult" (sum of "very difficult" and "somewhat difficult") still account for approximately 60%
- Detailed economic conditions were surveyed, including income distribution and income status by age group of household heads
- Comprehensive economic data was collected, including annual trends in income status and breakdown by income type
- Detailed analysis was conducted on the income status of various types of households
The article highlights contemporary Japanese social challenges where household structures are rapidly changing with simultaneous increases in single-person households and aging, while many households continue to feel economic hardship.