New figures from the government show that the estimated count of babies born in 2018 has dropped to a historic low. "We know we must address the birthrate," a Japanese official says.
"It is impossible to lead a happy life when long hours and overexertion become routine," President Moon Jae-in said recently. The country has one of the world's lowest birth rates.
Russia is facing a demographic crisis. Some women are having more babies, but there are fewer mothers overall. The country may face worse economic problems and challenges staffing its armed forces.
Credit (or blame) goes to France, which wanted more babies in the 19th century. Like most government plans to influence birthrate, it didn't quite work.