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While there is a range of factors determining the demographics of a country, Japan’s most prominent feature is its population development and age structure. Following high growth rates in the late 19th and early 20th century, population growth started slowing down after World War II. The population eventually reached its peak with more than 128 million people between 2007 and 2010. Low birthrate, as well as low levels of immigration, have led to a declining trend since then.
Despite the decreasing number of inhabitants, the population density in Japan remains to be one of the highest in Asia. The population is highly concentrated in metropolitan areas, most notably Tokyo, which is one of the world’s most populated cities, as well as Osaka and Nagoya. While many rural areas face depopulation tendencies, land prices in the three large metropolitan areas have been increasing again since the mid-2010s.
Aging population
Japan’s population currently is not only shrinking, but it is also one of the fastest aging populations in the world. At the same time, it has one of the highest life expectancies. The cohort of people aged 65 years and older consisted of around 36.5 million people in 2022 and was estimated to make up over 38 percent of the population by 2070. As a consequence of those demographic changes, the Japanese economy today faces severe labor shortages, as is exemplified by a comparably low unemployment rate.
Until recently, the workforce in Japan was shrinking rapidly, putting pressure on the social security system. But continued employment of the elderly and the growing integration of women into the labor market have kept the labor force relatively stable and even led to a slight increase in recent years.
Migration
The population in Japan appears largely hom*ogenous compared to many other countries around the world. Yamato people - a term used since the 19th century for the ethnic group native to the Japanese archipelago to distinguish them from minority groups, such as Ainu, Ryukyuans, or Koreans and Taiwanese who had settled in peripheral areas of Japan - make up the overwhelming majority of the population. However, the number of foreign residents living in Japan was growing until the coronavirus struck in 2020 and has resumed its upward trajectory in 2022. As this group consists of the largest part of younger people, it has been anticipated to have a positive effect on the Japan's size of the workforce.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Feb 9, 2024
Key insights
- Total population
- 124.62m
Detailed statistics
Total population in Japan 2019-2029
- Labor force
- 69.3m
Detailed statistics
Labor force Japan 1973-2023
- Fertility rate
- 1.3
Detailed statistics
Fertility rate in Japan 2011-2021
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Overview
5
- Basic Statistic Total population in Japan 2019-2029
- Basic Statistic Population growth in Japan 2012-2022
- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2003-2022, by gender
- Basic Statistic Population density in Japan 2011-2021
- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2022, by prefecture
Overview
- Basic Statistic Total population in Japan 2019-2029
Total population in Japan 2019-2029
Japan: Total population from 2019 to 2029 (in millions)
- Basic Statistic Population growth in Japan 2012-2022
Population growth in Japan 2012-2022
Japan: Population growth from 2012 to 2022 (compared to the previous year)
- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2003-2022, by gender
Population Japan 2003-2022, by gender
Population of Japan from 2003 to 2022, by gender (in millions)
- Basic Statistic Population density in Japan 2011-2021
Population density in Japan 2011-2021
Japan: Population density from 2011 to 2021 (inhabitants per square kilometer)
- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2022, by prefecture
Population Japan 2022, by prefecture
Population of Japan in 2022, by prefecture (in millions)
Age structure
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- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2000-2030, by age group
- Premium Statistic Projection of female population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
- Premium Statistic Projection of male population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
- Premium Statistic Percentage of population aged 65 years and older Japan 1960-2022
- Premium Statistic Life expectancy at birth in total and by gender Japan 2002-2021
Age structure
- Premium Statistic Population Japan 2000-2030, by age group
Population Japan 2000-2030, by age group
Population of Japan from 2000 to 2020 with a forecast until 2030, by age group (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Projection of female population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
Projection of female population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
Forecast of the female population in Japan from 2023 to 2120, by age group (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Projection of male population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
Projection of male population Japan 2023-2120, by age group
Forecast of the male population in Japan from 2023 to 2120, by age group (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Percentage of population aged 65 years and older Japan 1960-2022
Percentage of population aged 65 years and older Japan 1960-2022
Percentage of people aged 65 years and older among total population in Japan from 1960 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Life expectancy at birth in total and by gender Japan 2002-2021
Life expectancy at birth in total and by gender Japan 2002-2021
Life expectancy at birth in total and by gender in Japan from 2002 to 2021
Fertility and mortality
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- Premium Statistic Number of live births Japan 2013-2022
- Basic Statistic Fertility rate in Japan 2011-2021
- Premium Statistic Mean age of childbearing Japan 1950-2030
- Premium Statistic Number of deaths Japan 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Death rate in Japan 2011-2021
- Premium Statistic Number of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants Japan 2021, by cause of death
Fertility and mortality
- Premium Statistic Number of live births Japan 2013-2022
Number of live births Japan 2013-2022
Number of live births in Japan from 2013 to 2022
- Basic Statistic Fertility rate in Japan 2011-2021
Fertility rate in Japan 2011-2021
Japan: Fertility rate from 2011 to 2021
- Premium Statistic Mean age of childbearing Japan 1950-2030
Mean age of childbearing Japan 1950-2030
Mean age of childbearing in Japan from 1950 to 2021 with a forecast until 2030
- Premium Statistic Number of deaths Japan 2013-2022
Number of deaths Japan 2013-2022
Number of deaths in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Death rate in Japan 2011-2021
Death rate in Japan 2011-2021
Japan: Death rate from 2011 to 2021 (in deaths per 1,000 inhabitants)
- Premium Statistic Number of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants Japan 2021, by cause of death
Number of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants Japan 2021, by cause of death
Number of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants in Japan in 2021, by cause of death
Marriages and divorces
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- Premium Statistic Number of registered marriages Japan 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Mean age of marriage Japan 1955-2021, by gender
- Premium Statistic Number of divorces Japan 2013-2022
- Basic Statistic Relationship status of straight and queer individuals Japan 2023
Marriages and divorces
- Premium Statistic Number of registered marriages Japan 2013-2022
Number of registered marriages Japan 2013-2022
Number of newly registered marriages in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000s)
- Premium Statistic Mean age of marriage Japan 1955-2021, by gender
Mean age of marriage Japan 1955-2021, by gender
Mean age at first marriage in Japan from 1955 to 2021, by gender
- Premium Statistic Number of divorces Japan 2013-2022
Number of divorces Japan 2013-2022
Number of divorces in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000s)
- Basic Statistic Relationship status of straight and queer individuals Japan 2023
Relationship status of straight and queer individuals Japan 2023
Relationship status of heterosexual and LGBTQ+ individuals in Japan in 2023
Private households
5
- Premium Statistic Number of private households Japan 1975-2020
- Premium Statistic Number of private households Japan 2020, by size
- Premium Statistic Composition of private households Japan 2000-2020, by type
- Premium Statistic Number of households with seniors Japan 1980-2020
- Premium Statistic Average number of members per private household Japan 2013-2022
Private households
- Premium Statistic Number of private households Japan 1975-2020
Number of private households Japan 1975-2020
Number of private households in Japan from 1975 to 2020 (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Number of private households Japan 2020, by size
Number of private households Japan 2020, by size
Number of private households in Japan in 2020, by size (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Composition of private households Japan 2000-2020, by type
Composition of private households Japan 2000-2020, by type
Breakdown of private households in Japan from 2000 to 2020, by type
- Premium Statistic Number of households with seniors Japan 1980-2020
Number of households with seniors Japan 1980-2020
Number of private households with elderly household members in Japan from 1980 to 2020 (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Average number of members per private household Japan 2013-2022
Average number of members per private household Japan 2013-2022
Average number of members per private household in Japan from 2013 to 2022
Income and expenditure
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- Premium Statistic Labor force Japan 1973-2023
- Premium Statistic Employment rate Japan 1973-2023
- Premium Statistic Average monthly wage per full-time worker Japan 2014-2023
- Premium Statistic Average savings and liabilities of two-person households Japan 2005-2022
- Premium Statistic Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2014-2023
- Premium Statistic Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2023, by category
Income and expenditure
- Premium Statistic Labor force Japan 1973-2023
Labor force Japan 1973-2023
Labor force in Japan from 1973 to 2023 (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Employment rate Japan 1973-2023
Employment rate Japan 1973-2023
Employment rate in Japan from 1973 to 2023
- Premium Statistic Average monthly wage per full-time worker Japan 2014-2023
Average monthly wage per full-time worker Japan 2014-2023
Average monthly salaries among full-time workers in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in 1,000 Japanese yen)
- Premium Statistic Average savings and liabilities of two-person households Japan 2005-2022
Average savings and liabilities of two-person households Japan 2005-2022
Average savings and liabilities of two or more person households in Japan from 2005 to 2022 (in million Japanese yen)
- Premium Statistic Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2014-2023
Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2014-2023
Average monthly consumption expenditures per household in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in 1,000 Japanese yen)
- Premium Statistic Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2023, by category
Monthly consumption spending per household Japan 2023, by category
Average monthly consumption expenditures per household in Japan in 2023, by category (in 1,000 Japanese yen)
Migration
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- Premium Statistic Number of foreign nationals Japan 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Number of foreign nationals Japan 1984-2022, by nationality
- Premium Statistic Foreign residents share Japan 1955-2022
- Premium Statistic Number of accepted refugees Japan 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of Japanese residents 2023
Migration
- Premium Statistic Number of foreign nationals Japan 2013-2022
Number of foreign nationals Japan 2013-2022
Number of registered foreign residents living in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Number of foreign nationals Japan 1984-2022, by nationality
Number of foreign nationals Japan 1984-2022, by nationality
Number of foreign residents living in Japan from 1984 to 2022, by major nationality (in 1,000s)
- Premium Statistic Foreign residents share Japan 1955-2022
Foreign residents share Japan 1955-2022
Share of foreign residents in total population in Japan from 1955 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Number of accepted refugees Japan 2013-2022
Number of accepted refugees Japan 2013-2022
Number of newly admitted refugees in Japan from 2013 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of Japanese residents 2023
Countries with the highest number of Japanese residents 2023
Countries with the highest number of Japanese residents in 2023 (in 1,000s)
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