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Japan's child population sags to record low for 27th year in row

The number of children aged 14 or younger is estimated to have totaled 17.25 million in Japan as of April 1, marking a record low for the 27th straight year, according to a government report released one day ahead of the Children's Day holiday on Monday. Children formed 13.5% of the aggregate population, making Japan the country with the lowest percentage of children among 31 major countries. Their proportion of the total population fell from 13.6% last year, registering a drop for the 34th year in a row, the report showed.