Correlation between Young Population and the Number of Universities in Japan

Among developed countries, the Japanese population is aging rapidly, and it is estimated that the aging rate in 2021 will exceed 25% alone among developed countries. In Japan, while the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, the number of universities has increased in recent years. In this study, we considered the future issues of university education in Japan by reviewing the current situation of the declining birthrate and aging population in Japan, the enrollment rate, the transition of the number of universities, and the number of enrollees. In Japan, although the 18-year-old population is decreasing, the number of universities has increased from 604 to 803 over the last 20 years. In addition, the number of university admissions has increased sharply. In the near future, there is a possibility that the number of university admissions will exceed the number of applicants. This situation will cause various problems, such as disparities between universities, a decline in the academic ability of students and financial difficulties at universities. The government assumes that higher education will enter the era of “universal access” in the future and expects that these problems can be overcome. It is necessary to keep a close eye on the issue and deepen policy discussions on the appropriate level of university quotas and the number of universities.