限界集落(げんかいしゅうらく)

げんかいしゅうらく
noun
village at risk of disappearing
societygeography
1. marginal village; community at risk of disappearing
A community, typically in a rural or mountainous area, where more than half the population is over 65 years old, making it unable to sustain basic social functions such as agriculture, road maintenance, and community governance.
この地域(ちいき)には限界集落(げんかいしゅうらく)が増(ふ)えている。
The number of dying villages is increasing in this area.
限界集落(げんかいしゅうらく)の再生(さいせい)に取(と)り組(く)む若者(わかもの)がいる。
There are young people working to revitalize dying villages.
人口(じんこう)減少(げんしょう)と高齢化(こうれいか)が進(すす)み、全国(ぜんこく)で限界集落(げんかいしゅうらく)の数(かず)は年々(ねんねん)増加(ぞうか)している。
With declining population and advancing aging, the number of marginal villages across Japan is increasing year by year.

Cultural note

A term coined by sociologist Ohno Akira in 1991. Reflects a major social issue in Japan where rural depopulation has left many mountain and island communities on the verge of extinction. Government programs exist to support these communities through migration incentives and remote work promotion.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 過疎(かそ) (depopulation)
Related: 過疎化(かそか) (depopulation)
Compare: 過疎地(かそち) (depopulated area)
general
Added 2026.3.13 12:49 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16500/16503_genkaishuuraku