Survey Finds 60% of Young Japanese Adults Don’t Care About Marriage

A recent survey conducted by Japanese technology company Biglobe Inc. found that 60% of Generation Z respondents said they would not mind never getting married.

The online survey, held from September 12th to 14th, collected responses from 1,000 Japanese people aged 18 to 69. Participants were categorized into age groups – 18 to 24 year olds (Gen Z), late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s – with results analyzed for each cohort.

When asked “Do you want to get married or are you married?”, the majority in each age segment answered yes – 52.6% of Gen Z, 60.4% of late 20s, 58% of 30s, 59% of 40s, 67% of 50s, and 72% of 60s.

However, 60.6% of Generation Z respondents also indicated they “would not mind” never marrying. This sentiment was most pronounced among 25 to 29 year olds, at 62%, and was least common among those in their 60s, at 39%.

The survey also asked participants if they want to get married or use separate surnames if Japan adopted selective name change, in which married couples can choose whether to change their names. Here, 25 to 29 year olds were most receptive at 41.6%, followed by Gen Z at 39.7%. Older groups showed significantly less interest – just 24% of 30s, 26% of 40s, 20% of 50s, and 18% of 60s responded positively.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 35.5% of marriages end in divorce nationwide. This number rises above 50% for international marriages.

Experts attribute Gen Z’s ambivalence towards marriage to changing lifestyle factors. With convenience store meals, cleaning services, equal pay reducing pressure on dual incomes, and technology facilitating independent living, the practical incentives around forming traditional family units are diminishing.

Additionally, surveys show younger generations view relationships as ‘mendokusai’ or troublesome to balance amid busy work schedules and financial instability. By the time incomes rise enough to support households, habits around singledom become ingrained for many.

While marriage rates are similarly declining across most developed countries, Japan’s demographic crisis compounds the concern. With the world’s second highest median age at 49 years old, the country continues grappling with solutions to boost births and sustain economic growth.

Source: mainichi