May 23, 2023

4th Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women – Declining Birthrate and Raising Children40% consider 2 children to be ideal, while 70% oppose raising consumption tax to cover public costs

With the declining birthrate having become a major issue for Japan, in March 2023 The Nippon Foundation conducted its 4th Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women, on the topic of “Declining Birthrate and Raising Children,” to gauge Japanese women’s attitudes toward raising children against a backdrop of a declining birthrate.

While 40% of respondents replied that if they had no constraints, their ideal number of children would be two, one in five replied that they did not want to have any children. When asked about parents’ responsibility toward children’s growth, the top reply, at close to 40%, was that parents’ responsibility lasts until the legal adulthood, while more than 40% indicated a collapse of the public safety net including the medical and pension systems due to weaker public finances as their biggest concern regarding children’s future. In addition, the top expectations of the newly established Children and Families Agency were to address child poverty and to address the declining birthrate. With regard to the increase in public spending related to children that is the focus of attention in measures to address the declining birthrate, more than 70% oppose raising the consumption tax, more than 60% oppose increasing the portion of medical and nursing expenses paid by individuals, and more than 40% oppose issuing government bonds.

Notes:

Survey coverage: 10,000 women across Japan aged 18 to 69
Survey period: March 20-22, 2023
Survey method: Internet survey

Finding: 40% of respondents consider two children to be ideal

If you had no constraints and could have as many children as you like, what would be the ideal number of children?

Pie chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women: In response to the question, “If you had no constraints and could have as many children as you like, what would be the ideal number of children?”, 9.1% of respondents replied “1 child,” “39.9% replied “2 children,” 24.5% replied “3 children,” 6.1% replied “4 or more children,” and 20.5% replied “I do not want to have children.”

(Top three replies)
2 children – 39.9%
3 children – 24.5%
No children – 20.5%

Finding: To pay for increased public spending related to children, the three choices with the most opposition were raising the consumption tax rate, increasing the portion of medical expenses paid by individuals, and raising individual income tax rates, while the three choices with the most support were reducing assistance to developing countries, increasing corporate tax rates, and reducing defense spending.

How should funds be secured to pay for increased public spending related to children? What are your views on various choices?

Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women: In response to the question, “How should funds be secured to pay for increased public spending related to children? What are your views on various choices?”, for “Raise the consumption tax rate,” 45.7% of respondents were opposed, 28.9% were somewhat opposed, 8.8% were somewhat supportive, 1.9% were supportive, and 14.7% did not know, for total opposition of 74.6% and total support of 10.8%. For “Increase the portion of medical expenses paid by individuals,” 35.2% of respondents were opposed, 32.2% were somewhat opposed, 12.9% were somewhat supportive, 2.6% were supportive, and 17.1% did not know, for total opposition of 67.4% and total support of 15.5%. For “Raise individual income tax rates,” 34.1% of respondents were opposed, 33.0% were somewhat opposed, 11.6% were somewhat supportive, 2.7% were supportive, and 18.7% did not know, for total opposition of 67.0% and total support of 14.3%. For “Increase the portion of nursing care expenses paid by individuals,” 32.6% of respondents were opposed, 31.4% were somewhat opposed, 12.7% were somewhat supportive, 3.5% were supportive, and 19.8% did not know, for total opposition of 64.0% and total support of 16.2%. For “Raise the age at which public pensions or nursing care benefits are paid or reduce the amount of payments,” 30.9% of respondents were opposed, 31.3% were somewhat opposed, 12.4% were somewhat supportive, 2.9% were supportive, and 22.4% did not know, for total opposition of 62.3% and total support of 15.3%. For “Issue government bonds,” 16.4% of respondents were opposed, 26.1% were somewhat opposed, 17.4% were somewhat supportive, 4.4% were supportive, and 35.7% did not know, for total opposition of 42.5% and total support of 21.8%. For “Reduce road construction and other public works spending,” 13.2% of respondents were opposed, 24.9% were somewhat opposed, 26.0% were somewhat supportive, 11.7% were supportive, and 24.2% did not know, for total opposition of 38.0% and total support of 37.8%. For “Reduce defense spending,” 12.5% of respondents were opposed, 21.4% were somewhat opposed, 22.2% were somewhat supportive, 17.3% were supportive, and 26.5% did not know, for total opposition of 33.9% and total support of 39.5%. For “Raise corporate income tax rates,” 12.3% of respondents were opposed, 16.4% were somewhat opposed, 28.9% were somewhat supportive, 15.7% were supportive, and 26.7% did not know, for total opposition of 28.7% and total support of 44.6%. For “Reduce assistance to developing countries,” 8.1% of respondents were opposed, 18.7% were somewhat opposed, 27.8% were somewhat supportive, 18.7% were supportive, and 26.7% did not know, for total opposition of 26.7% and total support of 46.5%.

Total opposed: “Opposed” + “Somewhat opposed”
Total supporting: “Support” + “Somewhat support”

Top three options facing opposition

Raise the consumption tax rate – 74.6%
Increase the portion of medical expenses paid by individuals – 67.4%
Raise individual income tax rates – 67.0%

Top three options receiving support

Reduce assistance to developing countries – 46.5%
Raise corporate income tax rates – 44.6%
Reduce defense spending – 39.5%

Survey Highlights

Until what age should parents be responsible for their children’s growth?

Until legal adulthood – 37.8%
Until they are independent and earning their own livelihood – 16.0%
Until they are employed – 15.8%

What are your concerns regarding Japanese society in terms of children’s future?

A collapse of the public safety net including the medical and pension systems due to weaker public finances – 41.8%
A weakening of the labor force due to the shrinking population – 32.3%
Increasingly violent earthquakes and other natural disasters – 27.5%

What are your particular expectations of the newly established Children and Families Agency?

Address child poverty – 20.3%
Address the declining birthrate – 18.4%
Address child abuse – 16.9%

What should the national and local governments and companies do to reverse the declining birthrate?

Raise wages – 33.4%
Make education free or provide more financial assistance – 30.0%
Strengthen public support for childbirth and child rearing – 28.2%

Will recognizing the rights of children born outside marriage lead to an increase in Japan’s birthrate?

Don’t know – 45.2%
Yes – 30.9%
No – 23.9%

About the Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women

The international community has entered a period of major change, with Japan’s population decline and aging population caused by a declining birthrate among the world’s most advanced. Against this backdrop, The Nippon Foundation launched the Awareness Survey of 10,000 Women in July 2020, with a focus on how women’s role in society and values are changing and to shed light on the society of the future. The 4th Awareness Survey was carried out in response to the Kishida administration’s recent launch of the Children and Families Agency and the Children’s Future Strategy Council, on the topic of Japan’s “Declining Birthrate and Raising Children.” The Foundation plans to carry out further surveys of women on other topics in the future.

Contact

Public Relations Team
The Nippon Foundation

Email: cc@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp