Quick facts
Japan population overview
Japan is the 6th most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 122,772,867 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of -0.6% the live estimate on this page falls by roughly 1,882 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 748,914 births (6.1 per 1,000 people) and 1,571,493 deaths (12.8 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 135,050 people. The infant mortality rate is 1.6 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 93,216,000 in 1960 to 123,366,734 in 2025 — a change of +32.3%, or +0.4% per year on average. It peaked at 128,070,000 in 2010 and has declined 4.6% since.
Demographically, the median age is 50.2 years; life expectancy at birth is 85.1 years; women have on average 1.2 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 11.2% of residents are under 15 and 30% are 65 or older (2025); 92.3% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Tokyo. Japan covers 377,969 km², giving a population density of about 323 people per km². GDP was $4.44T in 2025 — about $35,951 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Japan population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #12 of 238 → | 122,222,548 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 122,772,867 |
| World rank | #12 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #6 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 1.5% |
| Annual growth rate #210 of 238 → | -0.6% |
| Births per year est. | 748,914 |
| Deaths per year est. | 1,571,493 |
| Net migration per year est. · #72 of 238 → | +135,050 |
| Birth rate #210 of 216 → | 6.1 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #9 of 216 → | 12.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #221 of 238 → | 1.6 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #180 of 238 → | 95.1 males per 100 females |
| Median age #4 of 238 → | 50.2 years |
| Life expectancy #10 of 216 → | 85.1 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #202 of 216 → | 1.2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #26 of 216 → | 92.3% |
| Surface area 2023 · #63 of 215 → | 377,969 km² |
| Population density #35 of 215 → | 323 per km² |
| Capital | Tokyo |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #4 of 212 → | $4.44T |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #46 of 212 → | $35,951 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Japan population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 122,222,548 | – | – |
| 2025 | 123,366,734 | -608,637 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 123,975,371 | -541,279 | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 124,516,650 | -608,339 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 125,124,989 | -556,604 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 125,681,593 | -579,407 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 126,261,000 | -880,000 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 127,141,000 | -929,000 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 128,070,000 | +297,000 | +0% |
| 2005 | 127,773,000 | +930,000 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 126,843,000 | +1,371,000 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 125,472,000 | +1,994,000 | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 123,478,000 | +2,641,000 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 120,837,000 | +4,030,000 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 116,807,000 | +5,234,000 | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 111,573,000 | +8,170,000 | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 103,403,000 | +5,451,000 | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 97,952,000 | +4,736,000 | +1% |
| 1960 | 93,216,000 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Japan
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo Capital | 9,733,276 | 8% |
| 2 | Yokohama | 3,777,491 | 3.1% |
| 3 | Osaka | 2,753,862 | 2.3% |
| 4 | Nagoya | 2,332,176 | 1.9% |
| 5 | Sapporo | 1,973,832 | 1.6% |
| 6 | Fukuoka | 1,612,392 | 1.3% |
| 7 | Kawasaki | 1,538,262 | 1.3% |
| 8 | Kobe | 1,525,152 | 1.2% |
Tokyo is the largest city with 9,733,276 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Japan cities →
About Japan
Population over time
- From 93,216,000 in 1960 to 122,222,548 today — up 31.1%.
- Population peaked at 128,070,000 in 2010 and is down 4.6% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: -0.3% per year.
- World rank: Population #12 of 238 · Population growth rate #210 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 84 years (2024), up 16.3 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.2 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #10 of 216 · Fertility rate #202 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 5.7 births vs 13.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Deaths outnumber births — natural decrease of 7.6 per 1,000 a year.
- World rank: Birth rate #210 of 216 · Death rate #9 of 216.
Age structure
- 11.2% of the population is under 15 and 30% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 5.7% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #214 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #2 of 216 · Median age #4 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 972.3 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 1,323.5 Mt in 2013 — down 26.5% since.
- Per person: 7.84 t in 2024, vs 8.21 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #5 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #28 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 3,005.9 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 15% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 8.8% of final energy in 2021 (+4.5 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #34 of 150 · Renewable energy share #154 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 68.4% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (0 points).
- World rank: Forest area #19 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 92.3% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 63.3% in 1960 (+29 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #26 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low–medium — freshwater withdrawals are 18.5% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 3,437 m³ in 2022, down 24.8% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #77 of 183 · Water stress #63 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $4.44T in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is down 2.2% since 2015.
- That works out to $35,951 per person.
- World rank: GDP #4 of 212 · GDP per capita #46 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 2.5% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 3.2% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #163 of 186 · Inflation rate #95 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 85.5% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 178.4 per 100 people (2023) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #85 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #12 of 210.
Japan in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Japan in 2026?
As of October 2026, Japan has an estimated population of 122,222,548. The United Nations estimated 122,772,867 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the -0.6% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Japan growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking at -0.6% per year — roughly 1,882 fewer people every day. Each year there are about 748,914 births and 1,571,493 deaths, with net migration of +135,050.
What is the population density of Japan?
About 323 people per square kilometre: 122,222,548 people living on 377,969 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Japan?
The median age is 50.2 years, and life expectancy at birth is 85.1 years. 11.2% of the population is under 15 and 30% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Japan rank by population?
Japan is the 12th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 6th in Asia, with 1.5% of the global population.
How has the population of Japan changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 93,216,000; by 2025 it had grown to 123,366,734 (+32.3%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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MexicoCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Japan Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/japan/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/japan/">Japan Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (-0.6%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.