To determine the most likely cause of Japan's negative population growth rate, we should analyze the given demographic information for Japan compared to the global averages and other countries. We need to examine the factors that can influence the population growth rate: fertility rate and life expectancy.
Here are the relevant data points for Japan:
- Population growth rate: -0.10%
- Fertility rate: 1.39
- Life expectancy: 84 years
Let's consider each option:
1. High life expectancy:
- Japan's life expectancy is 84 years, which is significantly higher than the global average of 68 years.
- High life expectancy generally indicates a well-established healthcare system and better living conditions but does not directly contribute to a declining population.
2. Low fertility rate:
- Japan's fertility rate is 1.39, which is much lower than the global average. A fertility rate of 2.1 is typically required to maintain a stable population (replacement level fertility).
- A low fertility rate means that fewer children are born, leading to a slow or negative population growth rate, especially if the births are not sufficient to replace the deaths in the population.
3. High fertility rate:
- This is not applicable to Japan as its fertility rate is actually low.
4. Low life expectancy:
- This does not apply to Japan, as its life expectancy is high at 84 years.
Given the above points, the most likely cause of Japan's negative population growth rate is the low fertility rate. With a fertility rate of 1.39, Japan is experiencing fewer births per woman, which is insufficient to maintain or grow the population, leading to a decline in population size.
