“An ‘epidemic’ of lonely deaths in Japan: Over 40,000 died in their homes within six months

Nearly 40,000 people died alone in their homes in Japan during the first half of 2024, according to a police report.

Japan currently has the world’s oldest population, according to the United Nations, a problem expected to worsen as more elderly people live and die alone.

Statistics show that in the first half of 2024, a total of 37,227 people living alone were found dead in their homes. Individuals aged 65 and older accounted for more than 70% of the total.

An even more tragic aspect is that approximately 10%—nearly 4,000 people—were discovered more than a month after their death, while 130 had died a year before being found. About 40% of those who died alone at home were found within a day.

Japanese authorities estimate that by 2050, the number of citizens aged 65 and older living alone is expected to reach 10.8 million, while the number of single-person households is estimated to reach 23.3 million.

In April, as noted by the BBC, the Japanese government introduced a bill to address the problem of loneliness and isolation that the country has faced for decades, partly due to its aging population. Last year, Prime Minister Kishida stated that the country is on the brink of being unable to function as a society due to the declining birthrate.”

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