Number of babies born to foreign parents at record high in Japan

The number of babies born to foreign parents in Japan reached a record high last year as demographic changes propelled migration to the heart of the country's political debate.

- Justin McCurry

More than 20,000 children were born to non-Japanese couples, accounting for more than 3% of all newborns, according to Japan's health ministry - in stark contrast to the sharp fall in the number born to Japanese parents.

The number and proportion of foreign newborns were record highs, the business newspaper Nikkei reported, adding that this was “starting to help dent the decline in births among Japanese people”.

Japan is one of the fastest-ageing countries in the world and has struggled to raise its birthrate to the level needed to sustain the population, which stands at about 125 million.