Japan paying families Sh950,000 to move out of capital

Ginza Shopping district in Tokyo, Japan. [AP]

Families living in the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan are being offered money to move out of the capital due to overpopulation.

Tokyo, which is Japan's capital city, is estimated to have roughly 37 million residents.

From April 2023, families will be eligible to receive 1 million yen (Sh950,000) per child if they move to the less populated areas.

Those who can apply for the money are children below 18 years and those already 18 but are dependent on their parents.

According to CNN, Japan aims to revitalize countryside towns and boost the falling birth rate.

According to data released by the Japan government in 2022, people aged 75 years and above accounted for over 15 per cent of the population while those over 65 years accounted for 29.1 per cent.

Japan has been struggling with low birth rates and long life expectancy.

Additionally, the number of deaths outnumber births in recent years.