Japanese Centenarian Population Exceeds 100,000 Mark

Japan has made it to yet another remarkable milestone of having more than 100,000 people aged 100 or older.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, 107,677 people aged 100 or above have been registered in 2026. The number is a record and the first time that the country's centenarian population exceeded 100,000 people.The current number is a result of resident registration numbers and shows the rise of 7,914 from the year before. This figure has been rising for 56 consecutive years.

Women Predominate

It should be noted that women predominate in the population of Japanese centenarians.From the total of 107,677 people aged 100 or above, 94,298 are women and 13,379 are men, hence women are approximately 87.6 percent of the total number of centenarians in the country. The statistics show a great gap between women and men living to 100 or over.

Dramatic Rise Over Years

The population of Japanese centenarians has seen an increase since the country started collecting the data.In 1963, when the statistics were first collected, there were only 153 people over 100 years old. In 1981, the number grew to 1,000; in 1998, it surpassed 10,000 and in 2012, the number rose to 50,000.The last figure implies that the population of centenarians continues increasing even after setting new records. The number in 2026 is more than twice as high as that recorded when the first record was set in 2012.

Rise in Number of Centenarians in Japan

According to the health ministry of Japan, advancements in living standards, diet and medical technologies, amongst other reasons, account for the increase in numbers of people who have crossed 100 years old and even more.
In addition to that, the phenomenon is reflective of other demographic changes taking place in Japan. The nation is known for its aging population which makes the increase in numbers of people reaching 100 years old very relevant from a discussion point of view in regards to healthcare system and social security for older inhabitants.

Historical Moment for Japan

It is significant considering that the number of centenarians has never before touched six-figure mark. In 2026, the total number of people in Japan reaching the age of 100 and above exceeded 100,000 and reached 107,677.
This statistic indicates the degree of change that took place in the demographic composition of very elderly residents in the country over the decades. Over the period between 1963 when there were only 153 centenarians and 2026 when there are more than 107,000, the change is truly remarkable.