Despite Fukuoka’s ability to attract young people from around Kyushu, statistics show that 34.5% remain unmarried (as of 2010). This figure is higher than the national average of 27.5% and the highest rate recorded by a designated city. One reason is that single women outnumber single men by nearly 13,000. Men outnumber women by 800~1,600 between the ages of 0 and 19, but this trend reverses around the conventional post-graduation job hunting period between ages 20 and 24. Likewise, women aged 25~34 outnumber men by 4,300~6,700. With an average birthrate of 1.24 (four-year average for 2008~2012), Fukuoka ranks fourth lowest among the designated cities and falls under the nationwide average of 1.38. City Hall argues that its average birthrate is lower because it is home to a large number of female students. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 11/3
Photo provided by the City of Fukuoka
