noun
city at risk of disappearing due to population decline
A demographic term coined in Japan referring to municipalities where the population of women aged 20–39 is projected to halve by 2040, raising the risk of eventual extinction. Used in policy, urban planning, and media discussions.
消滅可能性都市に指定された自治体は、若年女性の減少が深刻だ。
Municipalities designated as 'cities at risk of disappearing' face a serious decline in young women.
政府は消滅可能性都市への支援策を検討している。
The government is considering support measures for cities at risk of disappearing.
Refers to a village or hamlet where over half the population is elderly, making community functions difficult. 消滅可能性都市 is a broader municipal-level concept based on projected demographic trends.
A related term meaning 'regional extinction,' often used in the same policy discourse. 消滅可能性都市 is a specific classification within that broader concern.
Compound of 消滅 (extinction), 可能性 (possibility), and 都市 (city). The term gained prominence after the 2014 'Masuda Report' by the Japan Policy Council, which identified municipalities at risk of disappearing due to severe population decline.