Japan's new born babies hit record low in 2013

The number of new born babies of Japan hit a record low of 1,029,800 in 2013, leading to the fastest rate of natural population decline, local media reported Wednesday.

According to a population survey report released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, a total of 1,268,432 people passed away last year, making the Japanese population in the reporting period decline 238,632 at a rough estimate.

At the same time, the average number of children that would be born to a woman rose to 1.43, slightly higher from the previous year, thanks to a rise in the birth rate among women in their 30s, said the ministry.

However, Japan is expected to continue to see a dwindling number of children as the number of women of suitable child- bearing age is on the decline, a ministry official said.