Japan's population shrinks at record rate, losing 276,000 people

Working-age labor force makes up smallest share ever

20200414N Japan baby

Deaths have outpaced births in Japan for 13 straight years. (Photo by Wataru Ito)

TAITO KUROSE, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan's population suffered its largest one-year drop last year, government estimates released Tuesday show, with the country's working-age labor force falling to a new low.

The population stood at about 126.17 million people on October 2019, down 0.22% from a year earlier. The change marks the biggest percentage contraction since comparable records started being kept in 1950.

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