Japan's total population declined for the 14th straight year in 2024, with the percentage of those age 65 and older hitting a record 29.3%, according to internal affairs ministry data released Monday.

As of October, the total population ¡ª which includes 911±¬ÁÏÍø and foreign residents ¡ª was 123.8 million, down 550,000 or 0.44% from a year before. Japan¡¯s population has been falling year on year since 2011 after peaking in 2008.

As the number of older citizens grew, the younger population declined, exacerbating the country¡¯s aging society.