TOKYO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of babies born in Japan in 2025 fell from a year earlier to 705,809, the lowest since records began in 1899 and marking a 10th consecutive year of record lows, health ministry data showed on Thursday.

A parent holds his child before the start of the "crying baby sumo" match at the Sensoji temple in Tokyo on April 26, 2025. (File photo: AFP)

The figure, including those of foreign nationals, was down 2.1 percent from 2024, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said.

Japanese media have widely predicted that the number of babies born to Japanese nationals within Japan -- due to be released around June -- could fall into the 600,000 range for the first time.

Kyodo News reported that the decline in births happened amid a rapidly graying population and increased anxiety over child-rearing due to the higher cost of living amid inflation.

The number of deaths in 2025 stood at 1,605,654, health ministry data showed. Japan's natural population decline -- subtracting births from deaths -- reached 899,845, the largest drop since records began.

The health ministry said the trend of declining births has yet to be effectively curbed and pledged to step up efforts, including raising incomes for younger generations and expanding support for families with children.