This is the 729th most frequent Japanese word.
少子化
Declining birthrate.
"少子化" refers to the phenomena of declining number of children being born, indicating larger societal trends.
日本では少子化が社会問題となっています。
In Japan, the declining birth rate is a social issue.
Here, "少子化" is directly linked to its effects on societal infrastructures.
少子化の影響で学校の数が減ることがあります。
Due to the declining birth rate, the number of schools may decrease.
The use of "少子化" highlights the problem being addressed by specific measures.