Japanese Singles' Marriage Aspirations Dip Below 80% for First Time
By Editor • September 11, 2026 • 1 min read
In a significant shift in societal attitudes, a recent government survey has revealed that the percentage of single individuals in Japan who aspire to marry has dropped below 80% for the first time. This survey, conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, reflects changing perspectives on marriage and family life among the younger population.
The survey, which focused on unmarried individuals aged 18 to 54 and married couples with wives under 55, gathered responses from a total of 11,780 participants, including 6,756 singles and 5,024 couples. Key findings indicate that amongst singles aged 18 to 34, only 75.1% of men and 77.8% of women expressed a desire to marry, both figures representing a notable decline of over six percentage points since the last survey in 2021.
Interestingly, the survey also noted a rise in the number of singles who see no advantages to marriage. The percentage of men disinterested in marriage climbed to 24%, while 21.5% of women expressed the same sentiment, marking the first time both figures surpassed 20%. Furthermore, about 42.8% of men and 36% of women reported viewing marriage as having no benefits, a trend that correlates with increasing numbers of individuals feeling content living alone, and a lack of interaction with children.
Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
