Number of centenarians in Japan exceed 60,000

The number of Japanese citizens aged 100 and above has exceeded 60,000 for the first time, a report released by the health, labour and welfare ministry on Friday showed.

There are currently 61,568 centenarians in Japan. That represents an increase of 2,748 or 4.7 percent in 2014, the report said.

This is the highest figure recorded since 1963, when data first began to be compiled and also the 45th consecutive annual increase, Efe news reported.

Of the total number of centenarians, 53,728 are women and only 7,840 are men.

The oldest living woman in Japan is a 115-year old resident of Tokyo who was born in March 1900.

The oldest man is 112-year old Yasutaro Koide from central Japan's Nagoya city who was born in March 1903.

In August, Koide was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest man.

The statistics once again put the spotlight on the aging population of Japan, that has the world's highest life expectancy of 87 years, according to data by the World Health Organisation.

It is estimated that close to 40 percent of the population will be over 65 years by the year 2060.

This is likely to pose a challenge for the world's third largest economy and in particular for the sustainability of its health services and pension systems.