●くろまるAnnual Population and Social Security Surveys (general statistics)
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research conducts nationwide surveys (referred to as Annual
Population and Social Security Surveys) on five different themes. The results of each survey are used as basic data for
policy making by national and local governments, and are also widely used in various fields.
The National Fertility Survey
The National Fertility Survey is a nationwide survey conducted around every five years in order to investigate the current state of and issues related to marriage, childbirth, and childrearing in Japan. It consists of a survey targeting married couples and another one targeting unmarried individuals. Accompanied by the continuing trend of low fertility rate in Japan, population decline, population aging and changes in people’s lifestyles all infl uence the future of Japanese society. One of the important purposes of this survey is to understand the state of low fertility rate and to explore its causes. The survey asks unmarried individuals about their willingness to marry and their lifestyles, and married couples about their willingness to have children and their fertility behavior, as well as their work and child-rearing environments. By doing so, the survey depicts changes overtime and identifies new issues through comparison with previous surveys and across diff erent sociodemographic characteristics.
The results of this survey are used as reference material to set the future fertility rate in population projections. In addition to being used to evaluate policy targets, such as in the General Principles for Child-Related Measures and the Basic Plan for Gender Equality, the results are also used to show the state of and issues related to low fertility for many offi cial reports, such as the Annual Health, Labour and Welfare Report, the White Paper on Children and Young People, and the White Paper on Gender Equality, as well as materials of various policy councils and by the media.
●くろまるChanges in employment status of wives before and after
childbirth, by birth year of the first child
Looking at the employment status of wives before
and after giving birth to their first child, it can be
seen that the percentage of wives who were employed
both before and after birth has increased in recent
years and was 53.8% in 2015?2019. It is worth noting
that there was a significant growth in the percentage
of wives who used parental leave after giving birth
to their first child. Among wives who were employed
before childbirth, 69.5% continued their employment.
●くろまるChanges in the ideal, intended and desired number of
children (average), by survey
Notes: Married couples include wives age are under 50, and
unmarried men and women are between 18 and 34 years of age
With regard to the ideal and intended number of
children for married couples and the desired number
of children for unmarried men and women, data shows
that overall, the average number for each has been
declining since the 1980s. Notably, the desired number
of children for unmarried men and women is less than
two on average.
The National Survey on Family in Japan
Accompanied by low fertility rates and population aging, the family in Japan is undergoing major changes in its structure
and functions, including the increase in dual income families and single-person households. The National Survey on Family
in Japan examines the current status and changes in functions of the family, such as childbearing, child-rearing, financial
support and caring of elderly parents, as well as the factors behind these changes. As a comprehensive survey of families
and households, this survey offers valuable data, which are used as basic references for drawing up various policies.
●くろまるChanges in the percentage of those who agree and disagree with ideas on gender roles, by survey round
The attitude toward gender roles has changed over the past 15 years, and it has become clear that there is increasing support for the equal sharing of
housework and childrearing in particular.
The National Survey on Social Security and People’s Life
Japanese society is undergoing population ageing and changes in household structures at an unprecedented speed.
In order to maintain the long-term sustainability of our social security system, it is necessary to implement a series of
reforms while also keeping in mind a delicate balance of self-help, mutual-help (by family members) and public help.
This national survey aims to understand the challenging living conditions people face, and how they cope with them
by supporting each other ? among family members and within communities. The survey results have been used as
indicators in the General Principles for Child-related Measures and the White Paper on Children and Young People 2024.
●くろまるPercentage of those who answered "No" as to whether
there was someone they could rely on for financial
assistance in an emergency (persons aged 18 and above)
In the 2017 survey, the percentage was high in single-parent households
and low-income households with children. In the 2022 survey, the
percentage that answered "No" declined in single-parent households
and low-income households with children but rose slightly among all
samples. (Here, low-income household refers to those with the 1st to 3rd
deciles of equivalent disposable income.)
●くろまるFrequency of conversation: by household (hh) type
(persons aged 65 and above)
Among elderly persons aged 65 and above in single-person or couple
households, most individuals have daily conversations with family or
others across household type. However, 15.0% of elderly men who live
in single-person households have conversation less than once in two
weeks, higher than elderly women who live in single-person households
or couple households (2022 survey).
The National Survey on Migration
The National Survey on Migration is conducted
to obtain fundamental data on the trends
and prospects of the geographic mobility
of the people living in Japan. The survey
provides detailed data on individual migration
experiences that are not obtained from other
governmental statistics. The survey consists of
retrospective questions on place of residence
at major life events (e.g., birth, completion
of school, first job, marriage, and so on), the
reason for moving to the current place of
residence, and prospects of residence 5 years
ahead. The results are used in refining regional
future population projections in Japan and
examining regional revitalization measures.
The results of the 9th National Survey on Migration, conducted in July 2023, show that the people’s mobility, which had been on a downward trend, increased slightly partly due to the effects of COVID-19. The percentage who responded that COVID-19 affected their decision to move was 0.9% overall, with a relatively high percentage of them answering, "I moved although I hadn’t planned to." It was also found that 5.1% of all respondents "live in multiple locations."
The results of the 9th National Survey on Migration, conducted in July 2023, show that the people’s mobility, which had been on a downward trend, increased slightly partly due to the effects of COVID-19. The percentage who responded that COVID-19 affected their decision to move was 0.9% overall, with a relatively high percentage of them answering, "I moved although I hadn’t planned to." It was also found that 5.1% of all respondents "live in multiple locations."
●くろまるPercentage of those who moved from and then returned to
the prefecture of birthplace (The 9th Survey, 2023)
The National Survey on Household Changes
The structure of households in Japan is undergoing significant changes. These changes include not only the expected
decline in the number of total households, but also the increase in one-person households, couple-only households,
and single parent households. The National Survey on Household Changes attempts to capture the detailed process of
formation, expansion, compression and dissolution of households. Such data on household dynamics are difficult to find
in other surveys, and the results are utilized to project the number of households in the future and for policy purposes.
●くろまるPercentage of empty nest(*) households by age of the head of the household
The figure on the left shows the percentage of empty nest(*) households that formed in the five-year interval between each survey by age of the head. While it varies by survey, the figure shows that empty nests emerge mainly among households in their late 50s to 60s.
(*) Empty nest refers to a household which consisted only of parents after their child(ren) left home to work or to get married, etc.