TOKYO: The number of empty houses in Japan is expected to reach 9 million in October 2023, up 510,000 from the previous survey in 2018.
According to a study published by the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday, this list represents 13.8 percent of the total number of houses in the country, meaning that one in seven houses is abandoned.
According to the ministry, the growing number of estates can be attributed to the increase in unsupervised situations when single elderly residents die or move to nursing homes.
Most of the 9 million unemployed houses are 4.43 million rentals, 330,000 for sale and 380,000 empty second homes such as holiday homes. The status of the remaining 3.85 million is unknown, up 370,000 from the previous survey.
