Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed the minister in charge of declining birthrate to draw up by the end of March draft measures for tackling the problem.

Kishida told Ogura Masanobu on Friday to launch a task force on the issue with officials from relevant government bodies.

Ogura plans to hold the first meeting of the task force at an early date and start debate on what measures will be needed.

The measures are expected to include expanding economic assistance for parents such as the country's child benefit, improving preschool education and daycare services, and enhancing the childcare leave program.

The government plans to decide on detailed measures based on the drafts after a new government agency for children and family affairs is inaugurated in April.

Kishida earlier said he would announce an overall plan toward doubling budget allocations for programs related to children before coming up with a government policy package for next year in June.