This country has over 100,000 people age 100 or older for first time - USA Today

Japan now has more than 100,000 people aged 100 or older, marking the first time the country's centenarian population has reached that level.

There were 107,677 people at least 100 years old as of Sept. 1, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. That's 7,914 more such people than the previous year and the 56th consecutive year the number has increased. Japan also has the highest national population of centenarians in the world, according to The Independent. Japan is also the first country to surpass 100,000 centenarians, according to Scientific American.

The United States had an estimated 101,000 centenarians in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That figure is a projection rather than a current census count, so it is not directly comparable with Japan's 2026 figure.

Women account for the overwhelming majority of Japan's centenarians. The ministry counted 94,298 women and 13,379 men aged 100 or older.

The milestone comes as Japan faces a growing demographic challenge: More people are living into old age while fewer children are being born. The combination is putting pressure on public resources and the country's ability to care for its older population, Scientific American reported.

Japan has long been known for its high life expectancy, and researchers have pointed to several factors that may help explain residents' longevity.

Scientific American reported that researchers have linked Japan's long life expectancy to relatively low obesity rates, healthy diets, widespread health screenings and affordable health care. Those factors are associated with lower death rates from conditions including heart disease and cancer.

The BBC also reported that Japanese diets often feature fish, vegetables and rice, while older adults commonly remain active by walking, cycling, using public transportation and stretching.

Japan's centenarian population has grown substantially since the government began tracking it. There were 153 people 100 or older in 1963. The number passed 1,000 in 1981 and 10,000 in 1998, according to BBC.

Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said the increase is a positive sign, telling reporters he was pleased that so many people were able to remain active and healthy for so long, according to CNN.

The growing number of centenarians comes with a larger demographic challenge.

Japan's lower birth rate and shrinking working-age population are putting additional pressure on public resources and making it more difficult to support an increasingly older population, according to Scientific American.

Jay Olshansky, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, told Scientific American that longer lives also raise an important question about how healthy people remain during those additional years.

"What's really critical about this is quality of life," Olshansky said.

Japan's health ministry also cited improvements in living conditions, diet and nutrition, as well as advances in medical technology, as factors behind the increase in the number of people reaching 100. The ministry said sustaining Japan's social security system will become increasingly important as the population continues to age.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.