Japan now has 100,000 people aged 100 or older

Did you know that one country now has more than 100,000 people who have lived for a full century? That country is Japan. This is a big and unusual number. It shows something very important about how the world is changing.

Most of these centenarians are women. In fact, about 88% of them are female. This means roughly 9 out of every 10 people who reach 100 years old in Japan are women. Scientists and doctors have studied this pattern for many years. Women often live longer than men in most countries around the world.

Why is Japan's population so old now? One reason is that people live longer and stay healthier. Japan has very good hospitals and doctors. People there also eat healthy food and move their bodies regularly. Another reason is that Japanese families are smaller now. Young people are having fewer children than before.

This change brings both good things and hard things. The good news is that people can enjoy more years of life with their families. They can spend time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But there are challenges too. When fewer young people are born, there are fewer workers to help older people. The country must think carefully about how to support so many older citizens.

Japan is not alone in this change. Many countries around the world are getting older. But Japan is moving faster than most places. Soon, other nations may face the same questions: How do we take care of our oldest people? How do we help young workers support them?

What do you think? How should countries prepare for more and more older people? Would you want to live in a country where most people are very old?

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.