少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)

しょうしこうれいか
noun
declining birthrate and aging population
formalsociety
1. declining birthrate and aging population
The combined demographic trend of fewer children being born and a growing share of elderly people. A standard term in Japanese news and policy discussion.
少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)が進(すす)む。
The birthrate keeps falling and the population keeps aging.
少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)は日本(にほん)の大(おお)きな課題(かだい)だ。
The falling birthrate and aging population are a major challenge for Japan.
少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)の影響(えいきょう)で、地方(ちほう)では学校(がっこう)の統合(とうごう)が相次(あいつ)いでいる。
Because of the falling birthrate and aging population, school mergers keep happening in rural areas.

A compound of 少子化(しょうしか) (falling birthrate) and 高齢化(こうれいか) (population aging). Almost always appears with 進(すす)む or in the phrase 少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)社会(しゃかい).

Common collocations

  • 少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)が進(すす)む: the trend advances
  • 少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)社会(しゃかい): a society with few children and many elderly
  • 少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)対策(たいさく): measures against the trend
  • 少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)に伴(ともな)う: accompanying the trend (labor shortages, pension costs)

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Formal, the vocabulary of news, white papers and essays; in conversation people more often say 子(こ)どもが減(へ)って高齢者(こうれいしゃ)が増(ふ)えている.

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Added 2026.10.7 9:56 · Revised 2026.10.7 9:57
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