Japan's centenarian population tops 100,000 for first time

September 15, 2026 at 10:55 AM1 min

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Japan's centenarian population reached 107,677 as of September 1, surpassing 100,000 for the first time in the country's history. The figure rose by 7,914 from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Women account for 94,298 of the total, while men number 13,379.

Key Facts

Japan's centenarian population reached 107,677 as of September 1, 2026, surpassing 100,000 for the first time.
The number of people aged 100 and over increased by 7,914 compared with the previous year.
Women account for 94,298 of the centenarians, or 87.6% of the total, while men number 13,379.
The oldest woman is 114-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto, and the oldest man is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato of Kumamoto.
Japan has recorded a year-on-year increase in centenarians for 56 consecutive years since statistics began in 1963, when there were 153.

Record Centenarian Count

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released the annual centenarian statistics ahead of Respect for the Aged Day, celebrated on September 15. As of September 1, the number of people aged 100 or older stood at 107,677, up 7,914 from a year earlier. This marks the first time the figure has exceeded 100,000 since records began in 1963, when there were 153 centenarians. The centenarian population has risen for 56 consecutive years.

Gender and Age Breakdown

Women make up 94,298 of the centenarians, or 87.6% of the total, while men account for 13,379. The oldest woman is Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, from Kyoto, and the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, 112, from Kumamoto. Average life expectancy in Japan is 87.3 years for women and 81.3 years for men.

Historical Milestones

The number of centenarians first exceeded 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has compiled the data annually since 1963.