Figures released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on 28th March show that once again the number of babies born was at a new post-war low of 1.121 million, 33,000 fewer than government projections.

This is the fourth year in a row that number has fallen, and shows that population aging is occurring more rapidly than predicted. There are now fewer under-14-year-olds and more over-65 -year-olds than government calculations in 2002 foretold.

The falling birth rate and aging society continues to have severe implications for tax receipts, pension rates and future benefits.