Child Poverty in Japan

Almost every single country, regardless of whether it is a developed or developing nation, has its struggles with child poverty. Yet, among wealthy nations, Japan has one of the highest rates of children living in conditions considered below the economic standard. It is essential to understand why child poverty in Japan is a serious problem that has been gaining awareness since the early 2000s.

Japan’s poverty is not an issue that developed out of thin air; however, addressing child poverty and raising awareness thereof is a relatively recent topic of discussion in the island nation. The collapse of Japan’s economic and real estate bubble of the 1980s led to higher unemployment rates, which still affect Japan today. Many citizens and residents in the 1990s were laid off from their jobs, which gave rise to low-income, non-regular employment among individuals. Due to these harrowing circumstances, it can be said the economic collapse may have had a hand in Japan’s growing poverty problem regarding children.

Statistics of child poverty in Japan and the world
Key factors affecting child poverty in Japan
Organizations fighting child poverty in Japan
Articles surrounding child poverty in Japan

Statistics of child poverty in Japan and the world

One of the first solid reports regarding child poverty in Japan was released in October 2009 by the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare. This report stated that while the overall rate of poverty was at 15.7 percent, the same for child poverty stood at 14.2 percent.

Child poverty has come as a surprise to many residents in Japan, mainly due to the report, Japan’s first comprehensive study on the issue. The report found that Japan has the fourth-lowest relative poverty rate, and the poverty rate for households of the working generation with children and a single adult is the lowest among the 30 OECD member countries. (MHLW)

In July 2023, the government announced that the latest relative child poverty rate was 11.5 percent. This figure, when viewed in terms of income, seems to indicate an improvement in child poverty compared to the previous survey in 2018 (approximately 14.0 percent). However, considering Japan’s eighth position among 39 developed nations in the latest UNICEF report on addressing child poverty and related issues, it cannot be claimed that a fundamental solution has been found.

Global data

According to Unicef, it is estimated that approximately 663 million children across the globe live in poverty, while 380 million survive under extreme poverty conditions. (Unicef)
Approximately 15 million children in the United States live in low-income families. (Children Incorporated)
The OECD states that a quarter of children living in Israel, Mexico and Turkey reside in families that live well below the poverty line. (Forbes)
It was estimated that in 2017, approximately 3.5 million children lived in poverty. (The Borgen Project)
10 percent of the world’s population is living in extreme poverty and surviving on $1.90 a day. (DoSomething.org)

Key factors affecting child poverty in Japan

Many may say that there are a plethora of reasons as to why there are so many poor children in Japan. These factors may be due to homelessness, single-parent households, child abandonment, or a combination of all of the above and other underlying causes.

Single Mothers

One staggering statistic leading to child poverty is the proportion of children living in single-parent households. Currently, 11.5 percent of children live in poverty; among this number, approximately 44.5 percent of these children are raised by one parent that is most likely the mother. The reality is that only one in four single mothers receives child support.

While this situation may not be unique to Japan, it remains surprising, especially considering that gender equality in the country lags significantly behind other affluent nations. As of 2023, Japan is placed at 125 out of 146 countries regarding gender equality. Due to such a high gender gap between both men and women, this may have implications on how much a general household may be able to provide in terms of income.

Gap in Wealth

The gap in wealth continues to rise in Japan. The household net disposable income in Japan was around $27,323 per capita according to the OECD, which is not a significant difference to $29,016 within the United States of America. However, the top 20 percent of earners bring in six times more than the lower 20 percent of earners. This makes the earning gap between the rich and poor some of the biggest in the world. This also can lead to a lower quality of education for children residing in Japan.

Education

Due to the wealth gap in Japan, this may also lead to slimmer options for education. Since Japan’s economic downturn after the 1980s, receiving higher education has become even more challenging for low-income families. This has undoubtedly created a vicious cycle that persists to this day. It can be said that without higher education, many jobs and prospects can be seen as out of reach for children living in poverty.

Well hidden

Another factor pushing child poverty is how, compared to other developed nations, Japan’s poverty issue remains hidden from the public. Culturally speaking, there is a need for people to keep up appearances within Japan. Furthermore, it is also the case that poverty in general, not just child poverty, is not about as openly compared to other countries.

Organizations fighting child poverty in Japan

Kids Door – An organization in Japan striving to provide a healthy and safe environment for children to learn and prepare for a beautiful future.

Lights Children – Located in Tokyo, Lights Children dedicates its organization to help children in need of social support. The organization provides education and training projects for children and also raises awareness for children by providing seminars within companies.

You Me We – You Me We is a Tokyo-based organization that works with building strong relationships with children’s homes. It provides support to those who grow up in institutionalized homes for them to become independent and financially stable in adulthood.