Japan's total fertility rate sank to 1.28 in calendar 2004, marking an all-time low for the fourth straight year, with the number of babies born in the year also falling to a record low 1.11 million, the government said Wednesday.
Although the rate has been officially rounded up to 1.29, the rate came to 1.2888, falling below 1.29 for the first time, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said in a demographic report.
The 2003 figure was 1.2905, but was rounded to 1.29.