The government has tried to encourage couples to have more children, with little success

Japan is producing fewer babies than in the 19th century, according to figures that confirm the extreme demographic crisis threatening the country’s economy, industries and welfare system.

According to the health, labour and welfare ministry, the population fell to 124.22 million last year, a drop of 444,000 people. Barely 918,000 babies were born, 28,000 fewer than in 2017, and the smallest number since records began in 1899. The number of deaths increased by 22,000 to 1,362,000.

The new data shows that, despite efforts to encourage childbearing, the government has failed to arrest the rapid shrinking and ageing of the population. The financial authorities recently warned working people to save and invest for retirement now, because state pensions would be unable to support an increasing number