330,000 people were born in the first half of the year... "700,000 people are expected to collapse for the first time a year."

Photo Source: Yonhap News

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on the 5th that the number of babies born in the first half of this year (352,240) was 329,998, down 6.3% from the same period last year (352,240).

Foreigners were not included in this number of births.

Kyodo News predicted, "As the low birth rate continues, the possibility of the annual number of births falling below 700,000 for the first time this year has increased."

Last year, the number of Japanese children born was 727,277, the lowest since related statistics were compiled in 1899.

The number of babies born in 1973 during the second baby boom fell by a third in about 50 years compared to 2.09 million babies.

In order to increase the fertility rate, the Japanese government is pursuing various policies, such as expanding child allowance and raising the rate of use of paternity leave for men.