In Japan, babies born to foreign parents hit 3%, easing birth decline

Japan immigration

Rise in non-Japanese newborns necessitates comprehensive policies to provide assistance

Younger working-age foreigners in Japan are having babies, helping to curb the country’s decline in overall births. (Yosuke Matsuki)

YUSUKE NAKAJIMA

October 12, 2025 16:45 JST

TOKYO — More than 20,000 babies were born to foreign-national parents in Japan in 2024, accounting for more than 3% of all newborns, with both the number and the share believed to have hit record highs.