Japan's population may start to decline in 2005, two years earlier than previously forecast, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
The population fell by 31,034 people in the first half of 2005, the health ministry said in a preliminary report, which points to a contraction in the annual figure if the trend continues, The Japan Times reported Wednesday.
The number of deaths totaled 568,671 in the first half of the year, while the number of births came to 537,637.
"We have seen the number of deaths exceeding births in individual months, but we have never seen it happen on a half-year basis," a ministry official said.
The natural population increase -- births minus deaths -- in the January-June period is in negative territory partly due to a flu epidemic and a continuing low birthrate.
The number of deaths fell from April, but there were 2,400 to 5,800 fewer births per month during the January-June period compared with the previous year.
With the population declining this year, it may begin to shrink on a yearly basis two years earlier than government projections.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
