Japan Estimates Over 11,000 Deaths from Loneliness in First Half of Year... 12% Increase

It is estimated that the number of "isolated deaths" (equivalent to loneliness deaths in Korea), where individuals died alone after being socially disconnected in Japan during the first half of this year, has increased by approximately 12% compared to the same period last year.

An elderly person walking alone in Tokyo (not directly related to the article content) [Yonhap News Agency Archive Photo]

According to local media, including the Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News, on the 31st, the National Police Agency of Japan announced that the total number of cases of individuals who died alone at home in the first half of this year was 40,913, an increase of 3,686 from the same period last year.

Of these, the number of deaths classified as isolated deaths by the Japanese government, discovered more than 8 days after death, was 11,669.

This represents an increase of 1,233 (11.8%) compared to the same period last year.

Japan did not officially release statistics on loneliness deaths until last year, when it began to compile separate statistics on isolated deaths.

The number of isolated deaths in Japan, first compiled by the Cabinet Office, was 21,856 last year.

This is nearly six times the number of loneliness deaths reported in Korea in 2023, which was 3,661, with factors such as a higher proportion of the elderly population in Japan cited as a reason.

In terms of age, among those classified as isolated deaths in Japan last year, 8,321 were in their 70s, 5,409 in their 60s, and 4,207 were in their 80s and above, with individuals aged 60 and over accounting for 82.1% of the total. Yonhap News Agency