## Japan’s Fertility: More Children Please

_Selected Issues Papers, July 1, 2024_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Japan’s Fertility: More Children Please](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/07/01/japans-fertility-more-children-please-551188)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/07/01/japans-fertility-more-children-please-551188/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/07/01/japans-fertility-more-children-please-551188/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/07/01/japans-fertility-more-children-please-551188/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Kohei Asao, Danila Smirnov, TengTeng Xu
- Published: July 1, 2024
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400282034.018

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### Summary findings
- Japan’s fertility has declined in the past three decades.
- Raising Japan’s fertility rate is a key policy priority for the government.
- Cross-country analysis and case studies find that the most successful measure to support the fertility rate is the provision of childcare facilities, particularly for children aged 0-2.
- Offering stronger incentives for the use of paternity leave can alleviate the burden of childcare on mothers, supporting fertility.
- There is limited evidence that cash transfers are effective in supporting fertility, based on international experience.

### Policy recommendations and implications
- Expand provision of childcare facilities with priority on coverage for children aged 0-2 to support higher fertility.
- Strengthen incentives for paternity leave uptake to redistribute childcare responsibilities and reduce the childcare burden on mothers.
- Reassess reliance on cash transfers as a primary policy tool for raising fertility, given limited supporting international evidence.

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## Content in this bundle

- **Japan’s Fertility: More Children Please; Japan; Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/025; April 15, 2024**
  - [Japan’s Fertility: More Children Please; Japan; Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/025; April 15, 2024 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2024/english/sipea2024025.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Japan’s Fertility: More Children Please; Japan; Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/025; April 15, 2024 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2024/english/sipea2024025.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/07/01/japans-fertility-more-children-please-551188_