Overview
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced Tuesday that the official tally of people aged 100 and over reached 107,677, the first time it has exceeded 100,000.
- The total rose by 7,914 from the previous year, with increases of 1,400 men and 6,514 women recorded in the Basic Resident Register used for the count.
- Women make up roughly 87.6 percent of centenarians, with 94,298 women and 13,379 men included in the 2026 tally.
- The report identifies a 114-year-old woman in Kyoto as the oldest person and estimates 54,294 people will reach 100 during fiscal 2026, an increase of 1,984 from last year.
- The number has climbed for 56 consecutive years, reflecting Japan’s long-term rise in longevity and pointing to growing needs for pensions, healthcare, and community support for the oldest-old.