BEING
OLD & HEALTHY
IN JAPAN
Tips

International Longevity Center-Japan

Preface
■

■

■

■

By 2025, one in every 3 people will be the elderly, andpeople will be expected to live till 90 in Japan.
Even when older people account for 1/3 of the
population, we all have different images of them. But thereal picture of older people is not well known.
This booklet introduces the real image of Japaneseolder people, using figures to make it easy to understand.
Japanese older people have become able to enjoy
health and longevity before other countries. There are
wonderful opportunities for them to play active roles in avariety of settings in a society.
We don’t need to be afraid of getting old in Japan!
We hope this booklet gives you some hints.

International Longevity Center-Japan

3

Contents
■

■

■

■

Preface................................................................................................ 3
Population
65+ population is skyrocketing.................................................... 5Life expectancy has doubled in 100 years. ................................ 6
The number of centenarians has grown by
over 300 times in 50 years.......................................................... 7
The majority of older people actually live in urban areas. ..... 8
In Setagaya City (in Tokyo), 6 centenarians live in every 1km2.... 9Life
By 2030, about 70% of the households headedby people aged 65+ will consist only of the elderly.............. 10
Over 90% of older people live at home..................................... 11
About 80% of older people rate their health as “fair” or better.... 12Internet? No problem!................................................................. 13
Women are particularly interested in fashion......................... 14
The average income per person is not much different by age... 15
About 70% of income comes from pensions........................... 16

Health & Long-Term Care
Healthcare spending is lower than other developed countries.... 17
Longer life with less healthcare spending. ............................. 18
People spend half of the lifetime healthcare money
at age70 and over....................................................................... 19
How to cure a cold differs by country....................................... 20
Over 80% of older people “do not need care”......................... 21
Dementia strategies are in urgent need.................................. 22
Almost 90% of people die in a hospital or institution ........... 23

Work
Labor force participation rate is at the top level
among developed countries..................................................... 24
Older people are as capable of doing good work
as younger people...................................................................... 25
Human Resource people have positive attitudes toward
employment after the retirement age.................................... 26
Japanese life at a glance. .............................................................. 27

Population

Population aging: Estimates and projections

65+ population isskyrocketing
While Japanese total population has been
decreasing since 2007, 65+ population
will increase dramatically until 2015.
The proportion of the elderly will reach
30% in 2025 and 40% in 2055.
(1,000 people)

140,000

70 (%)

Total

60

120,000
100,00050
40.5 40

80,00030.5

60,00040,000Aged 0-1430Aged 65+20

20,000

10

0

0

1955

65

75

85

95

2005

15

25

35

45

% of the elderly

Aged 15-64

55 (Year)

National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Population Projection for Japan, 2006

5

（%）

50

Population

Trends in life expectancy at birthLife expectancy has
doubled in 100 years
Life expectancy has
increased by about 40
years in the last 100 year,(Years)from 44 to 83 years.

80.48

80

82.85

76.89
72.92

70

74.78

76.38

84.60 85.52

86.05 86.44 86.39

77.72 78.56 79.29

79.59 79.64

71.73

67.75
67.74
63.60

60
53.96
50

49.63

Women
Men

50.06
44.30
43.20 46.92

40 42.8042.06
1891 1921 1935 1947 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2000 2005 2008 2009 2010
(Year)〜98 〜25
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Life Table and Abridged Life Table

6

Population

Trends in the number of centenarians

The number of centenarians
has grown by over 300 times
in 50 years(people)The number of centenarians has

700,000

683,000

grown by over 300 times from 150 to
53,000 (in 2012) over the last 50

600,000

years. It will further grow to 680,000
by 2050!

500,000

420,000

400,000
300,000

273,000

200,000

128,000

100,000
0

153

310

44,449968 3,298 13,036

1963

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Projections

2030

2040 2050(Year)-2010: Report from each prefecture based on Basic Resident Register,2020-: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research,
Population Projection for Japan, 2006

7

PopulationThe number of older people in metropolitan areas and the growth rate of the aged population by prefecture

The majority of older people
actually live in urban areas
About half of older
people live in 8
metropolitan areas. In
Tokyo metropolitan

The number of 65+ people
in 8 metropolitan areas (2010)

area, the growth rate of

National Total: 29,412,000 people

the aged population will
be over 50% between

Total of8 metropolitan areas:
13, 258,000(45.1%)

020

40

2005 and 2035.
Other

60

80

(%)

100

8 metropolitan areas: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba,
Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka

Growth rate of 65+ populationby prefecture: 2005-2035＞75%

50%-75%25%-50%＜25%
Tokyo
metropolitan
areas
National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Population Projection by Prefecture, 2007

8

Population Trends in centenarian population in Setagaya City, Tokyo

In Setagaya City (in Tokyo),
6 centenarians live in every
1km2(People)

350

331
44

Women

300

Men

250
200

287

219

179
25
154

150

271
52

100
50
0

Setagaya City Area:

2003

2008

2011 (Year)

About 58.08km2

331 centenarians
currently live in Setagaya（千人）

20,00016,000City, Tokyo, meaning 5.7
2
people in every 1km.
19,031
世帯（39.0%）

15,680 世帯（31.2%）

Setagaya City Statistics Office, 2011

37.7%
9

29.7%

Life

Types of households headed by people aged 65+

By 2030, about 70% of thehouseholds headed by people aged
65+ will consist only of the elderly
About 40% of all(1,000 households)

12,00015,680(31.2%)

includehouseholds
headed by people

37.7%

Single person

16,000households will

19,031(39.0%)

20,000

29.7%
29.9%
34.0%

4,000

0

2010

70% will consist
only of the elderly

32.4%(the most commontype) will besingle-personhouseholds.

Other

36.3%

of which about

and about 40%

Couple only

8,000

aged 65+ by 2030,

2030(Year)（%）

80

National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Household Projection for Japan, 2008
The numbers in ( ) indicate the proportions of households headed by people aged 65+ in the total
households.

70.1

60

10

平成20年末

63.4
57.0

平成22年末Life

Where older people live

Over 90% of older people
live at home
Over 90% of older people live at
home.
About 4% are institutionalized,
and about 3% are hospitalized.

Hospitals
andclinics

Socialwelfarefacilities

3.7%

3.2%

Home

93.1%
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Patient Survey, 2008
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Survey of Social Welfare Institutions, 2009
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Survey of Institutions and Establishments for Long-Term Care, 2009
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Population Estimates, 200911

Life

Subjective health status of older people

About 80% of older people rate
their health as “fair” or better
About 80% of people aged 65+
rate their health as “good” or“fair.”

Bad

4.4%
Somewhat
bad

18.8%

Good

29.2%

Fair

Somewhat
26.2% good

21.3%

Cabinet Office, Attitude Survey on Older People’s Health, 200712

LifeしInternet usage by age group

Internet?
No problem!
The rate of internet usage among older
people has been increasing.
(%)

80

70% of people aged 60-64 and 40% of
people in their 70s use the internet.

70.1
60

the end of 200863.4

the end of 2010

57.0
40

39.2

37.6
27.7

20

14.5
0

60〜64

65〜69

70〜79

20.3

80

(Years)

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Communication Usage Trend Survey, 201013

LifeしInterest in fashion

Women are particularlyinterested in fashion
60% of 60+ people areinterested in fashion.
Women are particularly

NotInterested
interested in fashioninterested (70%).

52.1%

47.9%

Men

Not
interested

39.8%

Interested
in fashion

60.2%

Not
interested

29.7%

Interested
in fashion

70.3%
Both sexes

Women

Cabinet Office, Attitude Survey on Older People’s Daily Living, 200914

LifeしAverage income by age group of household head

The average income
per person is not muchdifferent by age
The average income of the elderly headed households is54.16 thousands dollars, while that of the total households
is 69.36 thousands dollars (15.2 thousands more). Yet, theaverage income per person is not that different: 24.19
thousands and 26.16 thousands dollars, respectively.

(US$ 1,000)80

Per household
Per person

92.36

85.63

69.57

68.08

60
51.30

40 37.99
22.59

27.30

23.59

59

60

69

70

〜

49

50

〜

39

40

〜

30

〜

29

24.19

〜

0

31.42

Average income
per person:
US$ 26,161

20.65

〜

20

25.59

54.16

Average income
per household:
US$ 69,359

65

〜

100

(regrouped)

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Comprehensive Surveyof Living Conditions of the People on Health and Welfare, 2010
1$=79.24yen

15

Life

Income sources of the elderly households

About 70% of income
comes from pensions
Social security
other than pension
0.8%

Other
5.7%

Labor
incomeAssetincome5.9%

17.3%
Public pension

70.2%
Pension comprises about
70% of older people’s
income, and labor income
accounts for about 20%.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Comprehensive Surveyof Living Conditions of the People on Health and Welfare, 201016

Health & Long-Term Care

Healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP

Healthcare spending is lower
than other developed countries
Among developed countries, the sizeof healthcare spending is relatively
small in Japan.

Japan

8.5

59.2
UK

8.8

Germany

10.7

France

11.1

USA

16.4
0

5

10

15

20

(%)

OECD Health Data, 2011

全国計

29,412＋7,25636,67017

Health & Long-Term Care Average life expectancy and healthcare spending per person

Longer life with lesshealthcare spending
Japan is achieving healthy
longevity with low healthcare
costs.

(Years)84

Japan

Switzerland

Spain

82

South Korea

80
78
USA

76
74
72

Hungary

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000 8,000(US$)

OECD Health Data, 201118

Health & Long-Term Care Healthcare cost over a lifetime (both sexes)

People spend halfof the lifetime healthcare
money at age70 and overThe lifetime healthcare cost
per person is about 285,500(US$ 100)

dollars. About half of it is

350

350

spent at age 70 and over.

323

319

300
251

250
203

200
160

150 131

50
0

126
71

48 40 44

73
58 66

83

101

122
44
9

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜
〜

100

233

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89 94 99 (years)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Health Insurance Bureau
Note: Estimates are based on healthcare expenditure per capita by age
group in FY2008 and static population according to 2008 Abridged Life Table.
1$=79.24yen

19

Health & Long-Term Care

Older peopleʼs health behavior

How to cure a cold differs
by country
Q: You seem to have caught acold waking up with hightemperature (38˚C), a sorethroat and cough in themorning. What kind of action
will you take?

I’d go to a hospital,
38˚C is not a fever.

get medicine, keep

I’d live as usual.

myself warm andsleep.

USA

FranceUK

Japan

Going to see
a doctor

71%

57%

0%

43%

Going out to buy
medication

0%

14%

100%

14%

29%

29%

0%

43%

Go nowhere

I’d need to make an appointment to

It is natural to catch a cold. I

see my doctor, usually on the next

wouldn’t go to a hospitalday. I usually drive 40 minutes tobecause I don’t want to waste

see the doctor.

doctors’ time.

International Longevity Center-Japan, Aging -Our Global Relations, 201020

Health & Long-Term Care

Proportion of older people who need care

Over 80% of older people“do not need care”
65-74 2.2%
75+ 14.9%

Need careBy care level

Need
care
Do not need care

82.9%
Only 17% of 65+ people needcare on a daily basis. People
with the highest care needs

Support Level 1 ─ 2.2%
Support Level 2 ─ 2.3%
Care Level 1 ─ 3.1%
Care Level 2 ─ 3.0%
Care Level 3 ─ 2.3%
Care Level 4 ─ 2.2%
Care Level 5 ─ 2.0%

(Care Level 5, likely to be
bedridden) account for 2%.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Report Survey on
Situation of Long-term Care Insurance Service, June 201121

Health & Long-Term Care The number and proportion of older people with dementia

Dementia strategies
are in urgent need
The number of older
people with dementia is(10,000 people)

500

expected to increase by
168% in 15 years, from
2.8 million in 2010 to
4.7 million in 2025.

400

470
(12.8%)

300
200

280
(9.5%)

100
0

2010

2025

(year)

Health and Welfare Bureau for the Elderly, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in August 24, 2012
The numbers in ( ) indicate the proportions of people with dementia in total people aged 65+.

（%）

80

22

70.1

平成20年末Health & Long-Term Care

Changes in the place of death

Almost 90% of people diein a hospital or institution
In 1951, about 80% of people diedat home and 20% in a hospital.
But it reversed in 1974, and about

(%)

100

10% died at home and 90% in a

82.5
80

hospital, clinic, etc in 2010.

78.3

76.9
71.7

70.7
65.0

60

52.3
43.4
35.0
29.3

20 17.5

0

62.0

56.6

40
23.1

81.7

86.1 87.8 87.6 87.4

At home47.7

Hospital, clinic, etc.

38.0
28.3
21.7

18.3

13.9 12.2 12.4 12.6

1951 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009 2010
(year)

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Vital Statistics, 201023

Work

Labor force participation rates among people aged 65+

Labor force participation rate
is at the top level amongdeveloped countries
Japan has the highest
labor force participation
rate among developed(%)

countries: 30% for men

30 29.1

and 16% for women.

Men
Women

22.1
20
16.7

16.1

16.2

13.8

15.4
11.3

10

7.7

7.5

6.8

6.4 5.7

5.7
2.8

0

Japan

USA

SwedenCanada Australia

UK

Germany

1.3
Italy

2.4

1.1

FranceOECD, Stat Extracts, 201024

Work

Ability to work by age

Older people are as capableof doing good work as younger
people
The ability to work among workers aged
60+ is similar to that of workers in their
30s and 40s.

(%)

100
80

Excellent

60
40
20
Inadequate

0

Good

Average

30s

40s

50s

60s

The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, Study on Older People’s
Physical and Other Abilities: Toward Employment until Age 70, 200925

Work

HR peopleʼs attitudes toward employment of older people

Human Resource people have positive
attitudes toward employment after
the retirement age

Will employ positively
while considering
their abilities

59.2

Will employ
a part of themNot thinking about
it positively

N/A

28.2
7.0

26

下記
8 都市計

companies have positive
attitudes toward
employment of people

5.6
0

全国計

About 90% of Japanese

aged 61-70.

10

20

30

40

50

60

（%）

The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, Study on Older People’s
Physical and Other Abilities: Toward Employment until Age 70, 2009

29,412

13,258＋4,196＋7,25636,670Japanese Life at A Glance 1
Life Stage

Birth• Total Fertility Rate

1

International
Comparison

Indicator, Japan 1
23Children• Infant Mortarity Rate(infant death per 1,000 live births)

Japan

1.39

Japan

2.5

Korea

1.39

Korea

3.6

China

1.56

China

19.6

Thailand

1.53

Thailand

11.4

USA

2.08

USA

6.5

UK

1.87

UK

4.7

France1.99

France3.3• Total Fertility Rate

Nowadays 1.39(2010)
20 years ago 1.54(1990)
40 years ago 2.13(1970)• The number of children on waiting
list for nursery schools(people)
25,556(2011)
28,481(1995)—

Indicator, Japan 2• Exp. Population(people)
92mil.(2055)
102mil.(2045)
112mil.(2035)
128mil.(2010)• Annual Birth(people)
1.06mil.(2011)
1.22mil.(1991)
2.7mil.(1949)(Baby-Boomers)

reference

1: UN World Population Prospects,
1: UN World Population Prospects,
2010 Revision(2010-2015)2010 RevisionM inistry of Health, Labour and2: Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, Vital Statistics of Japan,
Welfare, Survey on Waiting Lists for
2012
Nursery Schools, 2001, 2012
2: Ministry of Health, Labour and3: Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, Vital Statistics of Japan,
Welfare, Vital Statistics of Japan,
2012
2012
3: National Institute of Population andSocial Security Research,
Population Projection for Japan,
Jan. 201227

Japanese Life at A Glance 2Life Stage

1

2

3

International
Comparison

Indicator, Japan 2

Economy• College Enrollment• Economic Growth (2011)Japan

55.67%

Japan

—0.7%

Korea

63.10%

Korea

3.6%

China

—

China

9.3%

Thailand—Thailand

0.1%

USA

41.06%

USA

1.7%

UK

44.86%

UK

0.7%

France43.17%

France1.7%

Indicator, Japan 1 • College Enrollment
Nowadays 56.8%(2010)
20 years ago 36.3%(1990)
40 years ago 23.6%(1970)

reference

28

Education• Population 18yr(people)
1.01mil.(2030)
1.21mil.(2010)
2.03mil.(1990)• Economic Growth
0.9%(1991-2010)
4.2%(1974-90)
9.1%(1956-73)• Tax Revenue(1990>2010,billion dollar)
Corporate Tax:230>117.5
Income Tax:325>168.8
Consumption Tax:57.5>127.5
1$=80 yen

1. The World Bank
1: OECD Education at a Glance 2011
2. T he World Bank
2: Ministry of Education, Culture,
3: Ministry of Finance, Trends in Tax
Sports, Science and Technology,
Revenue by Main Tax Item(General
School Basic Survey 2012
Account), 2012
3: Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, Population
estimates
National Institute of Population andSocial Security Research,
Population Projection for Japan,
Jan. 2012

Japanese Life at A Glance 3
Life Stage

1

2

International
Comparison

LabourLiving and Family• Unemployment Rate(2012)• Income Gap(Gini coefficient)

Japan

4.5%

Japan

0.33

Korea

3.3%

Korea

0.32

China

4.0%

China

—

Thailand

0.7%

Thailand

0.54

USA

8.2%

USA

0.38

UK

8.3%

UK

0.34

France9.9%

France0.29

Indicator, Japan 1 • Temporary Workers[Men, age 25-34) • Average Family Size(people)
Nowadays 14.0%(2010)
2.62(2009)20 years ago 3.2%(1990)
3.05(1990)
40 years ago—
3.45(1970)• Marriage Rate (Men)age 30-34

3

Indicator, Japan 2

age 25-29
age 20-24

reference• The number of people on
Full time:59.6%
Temporary:30.2% welfare(people)
Full time:34.7% 1.95mil. (2011)
Temporary:14.8% 1.01mil. (1990)
Full time:12.2% 1.34mil. (1970)
Temporary:5.7%

1: International Monetary Fund, World 1: OECD Factbook 2011-2012
Economic Outlook Database 2012
UN Development Program,
2: Ministry of Internal Affairs andInternational Human Development
Communications, Labour Force
Report 2011
Survey2: Ministry of Health, Labour and3: Japan Institute for Labour Policy
Welfare, Comprehensive Survey ofand Training, Realities andLiving Conditions of the People on
Challenges of Youth Employment
Health and Welfare
Support, 2005
3: National Institute of Population andSocial Security Research, Social
Security in Japan, 201229

Japanese Life at A Glance 4Life Stage

1

2

3

International
Comparison

After Retirement

Life Expectancy• Elderly 65+(2010>2050)• Life Expectancy at Birth (both sexes)Japan

23 > 36%

Japan

83.7 years old

Korea

11 > 33%

Korea

80.7

China

8 > 26%

China

73.8

Thailand9 > 25%Thailand

74.4

USA

13 > 21%

USA

78.8

UK

17 > 24%

UK

80.4

France17 > 25%

France81.7• Life Expectancy at Birth(years old)
Indicator, Japan 1 • Elderly with Care Needs (65+)(people)(Men)(Women)Nowadays 4.9mil.(2010)
79.4
85.9
(2011)
20 years ago 2.5mil.(2000)
75.9
81.9
(1990)—
40 years ago
67.7
74.7
(1970)

Indicator, Japan 2

reference• Exp. Population 65+(people)
39mil.(2050)
36mil.(2025)
29mil.(2010)
1: UN World Population Prospects,
the 2010 Revision
2: Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, Progress Report on
Long-term Care Insurance
Program
3: UN World Population Prospects,
the 2010 Revision—

1: UN World Population Prospects,
the 2010 Revision
2: Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, Abridged Life Table, 2011

copyright©2012 ILC-Japan All right reserved.
30

Being Old & Healthy in Japan
Published by:

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