Japan records first year-over-year increase in first-half births in 11 years

Preliminary data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare indicates a 0.8% increase in births for the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. While this marks the first such rise in over a decade, it remains unclear if this represents a sustained demographic shift or a temporary statistical fluctuation. The data is significant as a potential early indicator of the efficacy of recent government-led pro-natalist policies.