Japan faces record low population

Japan's population has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, while its foreign resident population surged past 4 million to reach an all-time high.

According to the latest population survey released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Wednesday, Japan's population stood at about 119.7 million as of January 1 this year, down by about 917,000 from a year earlier, marking the largest annual decline since 1968. The number of births last year fell to a record low of about 670,000.

Japan's population has now declined for 17 consecutive years. Every prefecture except Tokyo recorded a decrease, while the number of foreign residents increased in all regions, reaching a record 4.03 million.

Kyodo News reported that the figures reflect Japan's low birth, aging society and accelerating population decline.