According to a Japanese survey, half of all millennials in Japan are still virgins. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research have launched a poll among 18 to 34-year old individuals and found that a large number of unmarried people were not in a relationship. On Thursday, Japan Times has reported that around 60% of unmarried women and 70% of unmarried men are not in any kind of relationship.
The study, which included 6,598 married couples and 8,754 singles, has been conducted last June 2015. According to the survey, 44.2% of the women are virgins while 42% of the men have never experienced sexual intercourse.
Considering that the birthrate of Japan has alarmingly dropped, the findings are not really surprising. In fact, the government has introduced added services like increasing the availability of nursery schools in the hope of encouraging families to reproduce. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has buoyed more couples to boost the birthrate.
Japan has one of the world's lowest birthrates. It is home to a severely aging population wherein 34.6 million Japanese have ages beyond 65. According to Nancy Snow, a professor of public diplomacy at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, the changing social and economic norms have contributed to the decrease in relationships between men and women.
Last year, Japan's census has revealed a staggering population drop that is largely attributed to its sinking birthrate and its aging populace. In 2010, the population has been pegged at 128 million. Five years later, a million has dropped out.
The Population Institute and Social Research has been conducting survey once every five years since 1987. 90% of the subjects who participated have commented that they saw themselves married in the future. However, Futoshi Ishii, head of the Institute's Population Dynamics Research Department, says that people tend to put off their plans due to gaps in reality.
When it comes to the institution of marriage, Japan is largely a conservative country. However, younger generations have more liberal attitudes that include discussions on issues like gender equality, individualism and LGBT rights. They are less concerned about traditional married life.
