TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of people aged 65 or older in Japan stood at about 36.24 million as of Sept. 15, accounting for a record 29.6 percent of the country's total population, government estimates released Sunday showed.
The elderly population rose by about 20,000 from a year earlier. Women outnumbered men, at about 20.54 million versus 15.71 million.
By age bracket, about 29.11 million people were 70 or older, about 21.68 million were 75 or older, and about 12.88 million were 80 or older, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Monday is Japan's Respect for the Aged Day.
The data also showed that about 9.43 million people aged 65 or older were employed in 2025, up for the 22nd consecutive year. They made up roughly 13.8 percent of Japan's total employed population, also a record high.
By industry, the wholesale and retail sector had the most elderly workers, at around 1.31 million.
Japan's population aging has deepened in recent years. According to projections by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, the share of people aged 65 or older will rise to 34.8 percent of the total population by 2040, when those born during Japan's second baby boom, from 1971 to 1974, will be over 65. ■