Tokyo, August 31- In the first half of this year, nearly 40,000 people in Japan were found dead at home while living alone, highlighting a growing social issue within the country. According to a report by Japan's National Police Agency, cited by the BBC, at least 130 of these individuals were discovered nearly a year after their deaths, and around 4,000 were found more than a month after passing away.

Japan, which has the world's largest elderly population according to United Nations data, is facing increasing concerns over the wellbeing of its senior citizens. The recent report brings to light the substantial number of elderly individuals in Japan who die alone.

From data collected by June, the National Police Agency reported that 37,227 individuals living alone were found dead in their homes, with 70 percent of them aged 65 or older. Notably, about 40 percent of those who died were discovered within a day of their passing.

Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, reported that the police agency intends to hand over this data to the government to help identify any remaining unaccounted-for deceased individuals. This move is seen as a step towards addressing the growing issue of isolated deaths among Japan's aging population.

Research by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, published last April, predicts a significant increase in the number of elderly citizens living alone over the next 25 years. By 2050, it is estimated that one in five households in Japan could consist of an elderly person living alone, amounting to about 1.8 million elderly individuals or 20.6 percent of all households.

The report also points out that changing social dynamics, such as younger Japanese people marrying later or opting not to have children, contribute to the increasing number of elderly people living alone in their later years. As Japan continues to grapple with these demographic challenges, there is a growing need for policies and support systems that can provide care and companionship for its aging population.