合計特殊出生率、史上最低を記録！少子化に拍車

厚生労働省が、「人口動態統計」の概数を公表。合計特殊出生率（1人の女性が生涯に産む子どもの数）が1.20と最低を記録しました。

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare released approximate demographic statistics for 2023 on Wednesday. The total fertility rate, which indicates the number of children a woman is expected to give birth to during her lifetime, fell from 1.26 to 1.20 in 2023.

※demographic statistics=人口統計

※fertility rate出産率、出生率➾birth rate

経済的な不安定さや仕事と子育ての両立の難しさなどが絡み合っていると担当者は言います。

The officials said a range of factors, such as economic instability and the difficulty of balancing work and childcare, are intertwined.

※intertwine :　絡み合わせる、絡み合う　inter＋twine糸などをよる

➾get tangled/intertangled/become entwined with/be connected with/

日本では、晩婚化、未婚化が進んでいます。

More people in Japan are remaining/staying single or marrying later in life. According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in 2021, 80 percent of unwed men and women nationwide between 18 and 34 years old said they “intend to get married eventually.”（いずれは結婚するつもり）

お金がかかることで、子供を持つことをためらうカップルもいます。

The most common reason for married couples to hold off on having children is that “it costs too much money to raise and educate children.

※hold off＝〔決定・実行など〕を延期する、〔決断・実行など〕を控える［見合わせる］➾push back

詐称などの問題も多いマッチングアプリ（和製英語）ですが、人気があります。

More than 60 percent of dating app users reported misrepresentations of marital status and false profiles of potential matches.Nevertheless, dating apps remain increasingly popular.

➾dating app/match-making app

※misrepresentation  不実表示、詐称

※marital status　 婚姻関係の有無（未婚、既婚、離婚）

出生率が1を切った東京都では、真面目な交際の誓約署名を義務づける婚活アプリを、本格稼働する予定です。

タイトル Tokyo plays Cupid with  matchmaking app, keep out phonies

※play Cupid 恋のキューピッドを演じる ※phony (口語)　偽物、いんちき

In addition to a photo ID, users will have to provide an income certificate and show they are single through their family register.

※ income certificate　収入証明書

※ family register　戸籍

Users will be required to sign a pledge stating that they are using the app to find a marriage partner, rather than seeking a casual relationship.

※ casual relationship　気軽な関係 ⇔　serious relationship 真面目なお付き合い