To deal with the declining birth rate in Japan, the Kochi Prefecture government has come up with a unique scheme. Under this, single people between 20 to 39 years of age will be given assistance of up to 20,000 yen (about Rs 12,000) to use dating apps so that people can meet and get married.
The government has come up with a wonderful way to deal with the declining fertility rate in Japan and the trend of people not marrying. In Japan’s Kochi province, single people will now be given up to 20,000 yen (ie about Rs 12,000) for using dating apps. This subsidy will be available to those people between 20 to 39 years of age living in Kochi state who are single.
“To help young people who want to find a partner and get married, the province has launched a subsidy program to cover the fees charged for using matching apps starting April 1, 2026,” the government said in an official press release.
Under this scheme, each person will get a maximum subsidy of 20,000 yen. With this money, users will be able to pay the entry fees, registration fees, monthly fees and other expenses of match-making apps between April 1, 2026 and March 10, 2027. Not only this, as long as the maximum subsidy limit is not reached, users can apply for as many applications as they want. Apart from giving money directly to people, the local government of Kochi is also supporting groups that organize matching events, so that single people get more opportunities to meet, date and get married.
“As part of measures to curb the declining birth rate, Kochi Prefecture provides subsidies under the ‘Kochi Prefecture Opportunity for Meeting Support Project Grant’ to organizations that organize events that provide opportunities for people to meet,” the government said in a release on March 24. Under this program, any one organization can get a maximum subsidy of 1,00,000 yen (about Rs 58,795).
decline in birth rate in japan
According to Health Ministry data released in February, the birth rate in Japan will reach a record low in 2025. Only 7,05,809 children were born this year, which is a record decline for the tenth consecutive year. The figure, which also includes children born here to foreign residents, is the lowest since records began in 1899. There has been a decline of 2.1 percent in comparison to 2024.
The reason for this continuous decline in the birth rate is being said to be the increasing aging population of Japan and the increasing cost of living. Due to inflation, the financial burden on families has also increased. Although the total numbers declined again this year, the rate of decline was slightly lower than last year.