Impact of TEPCO Nuclear Accident and Associated Evacuation to the Demography in Fukushima

抄録

The nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station resulted in evacuation orders being issued for the surrounding municipalities. These have been lifted one by one, and people have begun to return to their hometowns. When considering the reconstruction and long-term development of these areas, population recovery is the most fundamental factor. In this study, I analyze the demographics of these areas, including how the inhabitants’ return is proceeding, from multiple statistical sources. The results show that out-migration according to official registration has returned to its previous trend again since 2013, that progress in evacuees’ return after the lifting of the evacuation order varies from region to region, and that the proportion of women of reproduction age is low among residents in the areas where the evacuation orders have been lifted.