35% of Unmarried Young Japanese Have No Plans to Marry: Survey

About 35% of unmarried young people in Japan say they have no intention of marrying, according to a government survey released recently, with many respondents citing concerns about income and a desire to prioritize their lifestyles and personal interests, Kyodo News reported.

The survey by Japan's Children and Families Agency asked respondents about their views on marriage and the factors influencing their decisions. Among respondents who were asked what they prioritized over marriage, 50.8% cited leisure time and hobbies, with multiple answers allowed.

The online survey targeted about 100,000 men and women nationwide between the ages of 15 and 39.

The agency received about 68,000 valid responses, although the preliminary marriage-related figures released were based on 43,529 responses received by July 23.

Among unmarried respondents, 35.1% said they had “no intention of marrying.” Another 37.5% said they wanted to marry eventually, while 27.4% said they wanted to marry within five years.

Economic concerns were also prominent. Forty percent of respondents cited concerns about having enough income to maintain a stable married life as a hurdle to marriage.

The findings highlight the changing attitudes toward marriage in Japan, where the proportion of people remaining unmarried or marrying later in life has increased as the country grapples with a declining and aging population.