Japan Flag

Japan

Capital:
Tokyo
Continent:
Asia
Region(s):
Eastern Asia
Largest Cities:
Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka
Abbreviation:
JPN

123.1M
Total Population
12
Population Rank
337.68
Density (km²)
-650.0K -0.51%
Annual Population Growth

Population of Japan

Japan's population structure shows a slightly lower male to female ratio of 0.95 to 1, with a median male age of 49.02 years old and a median female age of 51.72 years old. The highest concentration of adults under 75 years old is in the 51 and 50 year-old age groups, while the lowest concentration is in the 18 and 19 year-old age groups.

Japan Population

Data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

Japan Population Clock

Japan Population*
123,353,439
Births per Day
2,048
Deaths per Day
4,248
Immigrations per Day
385
Net Change per Day
1,815
2025 Population Change*
78,045

* As of 2/12/2025

1 birth

Every 42.2 seconds

1 death

Every 20.3 seconds

1 immigrant

Every 3.7 minutes

1 person

Every 47.6 seconds

Population by City

City
2025 Pop.
Tokyo8,336,599
Yokohama3,574,443
Osaka2,592,413
Nagoya2,191,279
Sapporo1,883,027
Kobe1,528,478
Kyoto1,459,640
Fukuoka1,392,289
Kawasaki1,306,785
Saitama1,193,350

Japan Overview

Japan, the island nation in East Asia, is a fairly sizable archipelago of 6,852 islands, although the four largest islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku) account for 97% of its population. The last set of official figures pertaining to Japan’s population were released at the time of the 2015 census and the final statistics showed there were 127,094,745 people there. The most recent estimate places the number lower at 126.71 million, still the world’s 10th most populous country.

The commonly held view that the population of Japan is in line for a sharp decline is backed up by the numbers. Based on the projections by the United Nations (visible in the graph below), the downturn will continue, and possibly accelerate.

Japan Demographics

Unlike many other countries around the world today, the population of Japan appears largely homogeneous with the final population statistics comprised of a 98.5% contribution from ethnic Japanese people. In addition, there is a very small proportion of foreign workers living here, largely made up of Koreans, Chinese, Peruvians and Brazilians.

The largest native ethnic group in Japan is the Yamato people, although large minority groups include the indigenous Ryukyuan and Ainu peoples. While Japan may seem homogeneous in terms of ethnicity and culture, this may be due to Japan’s absence of racial and ethnic statistics for Japanese nationals. The country has traditionally rejected the need to recognize ethnic differences in Japan, and former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso once described the country as one of “one nation, one civilization, one language, one culture and one race.”

Japan is currently the world’s oldest country, and it’s set to get even older. The number of elderly people aged 65 or older accounts for 26.7 percent of the 127.11 million total population, up 3.7 percentage points from five years ago, a summary report of the 2015 national census shows. In 2050, it’s estimated by the government that 40% of Japan’s population will be over 65. In the last few decades, the country’s social security budget has increased 15%. While 5 decades ago there were 12 workers for every retiree, there will be an equal 1:1 ratio in 50 years. This is one of any demographics problems Japan must address.

Japan Religion, Economy and Politics

Most people in Japan identify with a religion, however it usually doesn’t play a huge role in their everyday lives. A large majority of the Japanese consider themselves to be either Buddhist , Shintoist or both. There are also a small number of Christians in Japan.

Overall, Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world even though it is expected to fall slightly in the near future. However, with low birth rates, the population is rapidly aging but in 2007, the country announced its first significant birth rate increase in many years, so could the predictions be false?

Unfortunately, Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates, and suicide is the leading cause of death for people under 30. Factors in suicides in the country include social pressure, depression and unemployment, and the National Police Agency found that suicides linked to job loss increased 65.4%. There was a suicide in Japan every 15 minutes, with close to 33,000 reported in 2009. Luckily, suicide rates have been on the decline for three consecutive years. This is just one of the many problems Japan will need to control to see its population and economy grow into the future.

Japan Population History

By 1873 (the approximate time of the Meiji Restoration), Tokyo Japan had a population of just over a half of a million residents, which tripled in size in only 30 years to over 1,500,000 individuals. The total estimated population of the time was already well over 33 million residents as well. The strong growth of this country is evident even from the start of national censuses, which officially began in 1920 and every 5 years after.