In order to provide basic information for planning the mid- to long-term national social security systems and for other related policies, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research releases various population and household projections: “Population Projections for Japan,” “Regional Population Projections for Japan,” “Household Projections for Japan,” and “Household Projections for Japan by Prefecture.”

“Population Projections for Japan” is a projection of the overall size and the age-sex breakdown of Japan’s future population, used widely as an important reference by the national and local governments and in other various fields. These projections are based on demographic analyses using the Census, vital statistics, and the national representative surveys conducted by the Institute.

Under the circumstances of the aging population and low fertility rates throughout the country, regional population projections are used as the basic data for formulating various socioeconomic and community welfare plans. While the population is aging nationwide, there are considerable regional variations in the trends of the elderly population and the aging rate.