The number of people living for over 100 years, also referred as centenarian, has been on the increase throughout the world. The Japanese health department has now confirmed that there are 58,820 centenarians in the country.
Living for 100 years or over is still considered a rarity for humans, but advancements in the medical technology has led to the rise of centenarians in the entire world.
The number of centenarians has increased at a record high for the 44th consecutive year in Japan. The Japanese health ministry revealed that the number of centenarians jumped by 4,423, when compared to 12 months ago.
The centenarian population in Japan accounts for 46.21 per 100,000 people. The Japanese health ministry also revealed that about 87 percent of the centenarians in the country are women.
The oldest man and the oldest woman in the world are also Japanese. The Guinness Book of Records recognizes Misao Okawa, aged 116-years, as the oldest woman and Sakari Momoi, aged 111 years, as the oldest man living on the planet.
Japan started keeping track of the country's centenarian population from 1963, when it stood at just 153. In 1998, the total Japanese centenarian population crossed 10,000 and since then there has been a steady growth of around 4,000 to 5,000 per year.
Improvement in the care-giving system and advancement in medical technology are considered to be the key reasons for the increased number of centenarians in Japan.
The average life expectancy for women in Japan is considered 86.61, which is considered to be the longest life expectancy in the entire world. The average life expectancy of a man in Japan is 80.21 years, the fourth longest in the entire world.
It is not just Japan where the centenarian population is on the rise. A previous report suggests that the centenarian population in the UK has doubled in 10 years. The report also indicates that the centenarian population may top 500,000 by 2066.
The United Health Care reported in April this year that there are around 53,000 centenarians in the U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the centenarian population in the country will top 600,000 by 2050.
