Abstract: Based on the data from previous national situation surveys in Japan from 1980 to 2020 and the household income and consumption survey from 2000 to 2020, by analyzing the population sociology and demographic economics characteristics of marriage, employment, income and consumption of the single group in Japan, this paper preliminarily investigated the status and potential of economic development of the single population in Japan. The study found that in 2020, the number of single people aged 15 and above in Japan exceeded 43 million, and the proportion of single people exceeded 40%. From 1980 to 2020, the number and proportion of single people continued to increase. The single population is mainly unmarried, and the ratio of divorce and widowhood of single women is significantly higher than that of single men. The proportion of unmarried, divorced and widowed living alone is increasing. The unmarried people living alone are masculine and aging, but the number of elderly single households is gradually increasing, and the trend of feminization and aging is prominent. From 2000 to 2020, the employment rate of single people declined, the monthly per capita income level of singlefamily workers was slightly lower, but the monthly per capita consumption level was higher, and the proportion of consumption for housing, entertainment and socializing was higher. According to the study, the rise of a singles society in Japan has promoted the development and prosperity of its singles economy, which in turn will solidify its singles social characteristics and further make it difficult for Japan to deal with the problem of low birthrate and aging population.

Key words: singles, singles society, singles economy, employment, income; consumption