🚨 JAPAN’S POPULATION SUFFERS RECORD FIVE‑YEAR DECLINE. Japan’s population fell by a record amount over the past five years. New census data shows the country lost about 3 million people, a 2.5% drop since 2020. The total population now stands at roughly 123 million. Officials say the decline comes from low birth rates and an aging society. Births have fallen for ten straight years. Deaths continue to outnumber births, and efforts to boost family growth have had little effect. Most regions saw population losses. Only Tokyo and Okinawa grew slightly. The government faces pressure to support local communities and keep the economy stable as the population shrinks.