June 4 (UPI) -- Japanese 2024 births dipped below 700,000 for the first time, according to government data released Wednesday.

Births dropped 5.7% to 686,061 as Japan's population dropped by roughly 919,000 , the 18th year in a row to show a net population decline.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected births to fall to around 680,000 by 2039 , but the 2024 data showed births reaching nearly that level 15 years sooner than expected.

The fertility rate declined to 1.15 compared with 1.2 in 2023.

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