TOKYO - The declining birthrate in Tokyo has reached a critical point, with the total fertility rate falling below 1 for the first time. Despite this, nearly 80% of unmarried young workers in the city are positive about marriage, according to a recent survey.
The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted its first survey on marriage and childbirth attitudes among men and women aged 18 to 34 working in Tokyo. The results showed that 78.7% of unmarried respondents intend to marry someday.
However, around 40% of all respondents, including those already married, reported encountering obstacles to marriage, either currently or in the past, mainly due to difficulties in meeting suitable partners and financial concerns.
Specifically, the most cited obstacle was the lack of good opportunities to meet potential partners, mentioned by 42.7% of respondents. This was followed by economic uncertainties, such as concerns about income and employment, noted by 36.7%.
Regarding the ideal number of children, the majority of respondents, 56.7%, considered two children to be ideal. However, when asked about the realistic number of children they expect to have, the percentage dropped to 39.5% for those who still believed in having two. More than half of the respondents expected to have either one child (35.5%) or none (24.4%).
Economic concerns were the most significant barriers to having children, with 74.1% of respondents citing income and employment issues. Other notable concerns included the increased burden of household chores and childcare (39.2%) and the need for understanding and cooperation from partners regarding work and childcare (33.7%).
Source: ANN
