Decline of Working-Age Population Continues in 42 Coastal Municipalities across Mainly Iwate, Miyagi,...

Wednesday marked 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. In 42 municipalities, mainly along the coasts of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, the working-age population — those ages 15 to 64 — has declined. The rate of decline compared to pre-disaster levels has reached 17%, nearly double the national average.