The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced there are 16,490,000 children under 15 years old in Japan as of April 1, 2013, which is 150,000 less than a years ago. That marks the 32nd consecutive year of decline. Children now comprise of 12.9 percent of the total population, down 0.1% from last year.

In Okinawa the children make up 17.6 percent of the population, the highest percentage in the nation. Akita has the lowest percentage at 11.1%.

In 1950 children comprised more than 1/3 of the total population in Japan, but the percentage has crept lower almost every year since. There was a second baby boom in Japan in the 1970’s when the rate increased to 24%, but after 1975, the portion of children in Japan’s population has been decreasing 39 consecutive years.

The boys number 8,440,000, which is 400,000 more than girls.

The portion of children in Japan is the lowest among the 29 countries in the world that have a population of more than 40 million. Ethiopia has the highest rate of 42.8 percent.

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