TOKYO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japan's single-member households are projected to account for over 40 percent of all households in 27 prefectures by 2050, with Tokyo leading at 54.1 percent, a research institute report showed Tuesday.
The number of single-person households among elderly individuals aged 65 and over is expected to increase sharply, reaching over 20 percent of all households in 32 prefectures by 2050, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
By 2040, more than half of the prefectures will see an average household size below two people. The trend will expand to 34 prefectures by 2050, with Tokyo and Hokkaido projected to have the smallest household sizes at 1.78 people per household.
The institute releases estimates based on census data every five years. The latest projections highlight the growing challenge of ensuring the well-being and safety of aging populations living alone in Japan. ■