Japan population
Current population of Japan
122,696,542
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 400
- Deaths today
- 935
- Change today (UTC)
- −346
- World rank
- 12th of 218
- 1.50% of world population
- Population
- 123,366,734
- 2025 estimate
- Annual growth
- −0.49%
- 2025
- Density
- 342 /km²
- 2023
- Land area
- 364,569 km²
- Urban population
- 92%
- 2025
- Median age
- 49.8 yrs
- 2025 (UN WPP)
- Fertility rate
- 1.15
- births per woman, 2024
- Life expectancy
- 84.0 yrs
- 2024
- Net migration
- +140,579
- 2025
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
Population of Japan: overview
Japan has a population of 123,366,734 according to the latest official estimates (2025), the 12th largest in the world. Roughly 1.5% of humanity — about one in every 67 people on the planet — lives in Japan. Japan is part of the East Asia & Pacific region and its capital is Tokyo.
The population is shrinking, declining at 0.49% per year — Japan belongs to the growing group of countries whose populations have begun to fall. That translates to a loss of roughly 608,637 people over the past year. Net immigration of about 140,579 people (2025) partly offsets the natural decline.
Population density is relatively high at about 342 people per km², spread across 364,569 km² of land. Life here is overwhelmingly urban: 92% of residents live in cities.
At a median age of 49.8 years, Japan has one of the oldest populations on Earth. At 1.15 children per woman, fertility is among the lowest recorded anywhere. Life expectancy at birth is 84.0 years (2024).
UN projections point downward: 105.12 million people by 2050, 15% fewer than today. The 2030 projection is 119,584,121.
Japan population, 1960–2025 and projections
| Year | Population | Growth rate | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 123,366,734 | −0.49% | −608,637 |
| 2024 | 123,975,371 | −0.44% | −541,279 |
| 2023 | 124,516,650 | −0.49% | −608,339 |
| 2022 | 125,124,989 | −0.44% | −556,604 |
| 2021 | 125,681,593 | −0.46% | −579,407 |
| 2020 | 126,261,000 | −0.29% | −372,000 |
| 2019 | 126,633,000 | −0.14% | −178,000 |
| 2018 | 126,811,000 | −0.13% | −161,000 |
| 2017 | 126,972,000 | −0.08% | −104,000 |
| 2016 | 127,076,000 | −0.05% | −65,000 |
| 2015 | 127,141,000 | −0.11% | −135,000 |
| 2014 | 127,276,000 | −0.13% | −169,000 |
| 2010 | 128,070,000 | +0.02% | +23,000 |
| 2005 | 127,773,000 | +0.01% | +12,000 |
| 2000 | 126,843,000 | +0.17% | +212,000 |
| 1995 | 125,472,000 | +0.23% | +294,000 |
| 1990 | 123,478,000 | +0.33% | +409,000 |
| 1985 | 120,837,000 | +0.63% | +754,000 |
| 1980 | 116,807,000 | +0.79% | +917,000 |
| 1975 | 111,573,000 | +1.27% | +1,411,000 |
| 1970 | 103,403,000 | +1.15% | +1,184,000 |
| 1965 | 97,952,000 | +1.08% | +1,049,000 |
| 1960 | 93,216,000 | – | – |
Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.
Japan population forecast
United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
| Year | Projected population | vs today |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 119,584,121 | −3.1% |
| 2050 | 105,123,167 | −14.8% |
Japan population pyramid (2025)
Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 11.2% of Japan's population is under 15, 58.8% is of working age (15–64), and 30.0% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.
Japan population FAQ
What is the population of Japan in 2026?
Japan's population is estimated at about 122.7 million in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 123,366,734 (2025). Japan ranks 12th in the world by population.
Is the population of Japan growing or shrinking?
Japan's population is shrinking by about 0.49% per year — a loss of roughly 608,637 people over the past year.
How densely populated is Japan?
Japan has about 342 people per square kilometre across a land area of 364,569 km².
What share of the world's population lives in Japan?
About 1.5% of the world's population lives in Japan — roughly one in every 67 people on Earth.
What is Japan's projected population in 2050?
United Nations medium-variant projections put Japan's population at 105,123,167 in 2050, passing through 119,584,121 in 2030.
What is the median age in Japan?
The median age in Japan is 49.8 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.
Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.