In Japan, It’s Not Just the Elderly Dying Alone
Japan is seeing a spike in people — even the young — dying alone in their homes. And authorities say they expect the problem to get worse.
By Himari Semans
Loneliness is on a killing spree in Japan, where people living alone are increasingly at risk of also dying alone. It’s not just the elderly who are dying, however. The issue spans across all age groups and is expected to only get worse.
Longevity’s underbelly
Japan is home to the world’s largest number of centenarians. It is the G7 member with the highest life expectancy. And yet, death from loneliness is killing tens of thousands of old and hundreds of young people in Japan.
In the first three months of 2024, over 20,000 people in Japan died from kodokushi (孤独死), or dying alone. About 80% were elderly people above the age of 65. Over 2%, or about 500 ranged from teens to thirties.
Self-neglect leads to lonely deaths
Experts say that a variety of factors contribute to kodokushi, including poverty, dementia, and self-neglect. A study by Nisseikiso…
