Japan has fewer children 14 or younger than at any time since 1908. And 70 percent of its workforce will be lost by 2050. The Washington Post called the situation a slow-motion demographic catastrophe without precedent.
Steven Mosher, who is president of the Population Research Institute and has lived in Japan, cited two reasons for the "impending demographic crisis."
"Religious faith in Japan is anemic," he said. "Historically, they don't think of children as blessings from God.
"Secondly, it's a highly urbanized society. They're living in crowded, urban apartments. Families have a very, very tiny amount of living space. The country is just not very family friendly."
Mosher said he doesn't see Japan turning this around.
In 2006, the U.S. birthrate hit a 45-year high.
"The U.S. approach is very different," Mosher said. "We use tax credits. If you're worried about demographic decline, you have to shelter young couples from taxes."
