Annual population growth in Japan
Japan: Annual population growth was -626,638 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-626,638
Change on year
up 8.1%
World rank
234th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.41 million
in 1951
All-time low
-681,757
in 2022
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Japan, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in Japan stood at -626,638.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.1% on the previous year and down 206.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Japan peaked at 1.41 million in 1951 and was at its lowest, -681,757, in 2022.
That places Japan 234th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1.41 million | — |
| 1952 | 1.29 million | -8.6% |
| 1953 | 1.19 million | -7.5% |
| 1954 | 1.08 million | -8.9% |
| 1955 | 1.02 million | -6.1% |
| 1956 | 916,529 | -9.9% |
| 1957 | 766,975 | -16.3% |
| 1958 | 737,978 | -3.8% |
| 1959 | 776,015 | +5.2% |
| 1960 | 776,782 | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 817,839 | +5.3% |
| 1962 | 858,811 | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 881,825 | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 931,945 | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 1.03 million | +10.1% |
| 1966 | 971,815 | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 1.08 million | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 1.27 million | +18.0% |
| 1969 | 1.24 million | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 1.24 million | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 1.24 million | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 1.29 million | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 1.38 million | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 1.39 million | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 1.31 million | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 1.18 million | -9.9% |
| 1977 | 1.07 million | -9.3% |
| 1978 | 1.00 million | -6.4% |
| 1979 | 944,621 | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 837,200 | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 635,293 | -24.1% |
| 1982 | 491,721 | -22.6% |
| 1983 | 463,168 | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 435,452 | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 447,763 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 534,575 | +19.4% |
| 1987 | 576,855 | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 533,369 | -7.5% |
| 1989 | 470,454 | -11.8% |
| 1990 | 452,356 | -3.8% |
| 1991 | 490,103 | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 493,837 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 456,248 | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 446,906 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 385,798 | -13.7% |
| 1996 | 302,645 | -21.6% |
| 1997 | 290,622 | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 283,256 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 252,384 | -10.9% |
| 2000 | 226,228 | -10.4% |
| 2001 | 232,350 | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 224,455 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 186,655 | -16.8% |
| 2004 | 144,515 | -22.6% |
| 2005 | 97,562 | -32.5% |
| 2006 | 83,916 | -14.0% |
| 2007 | 90,436 | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 68,309 | -24.5% |
| 2009 | 36,479 | -46.6% |
| 2010 | -7,198 | -119.7% |
| 2011 | -88,843 | +1134.3% |
| 2012 | -168,147 | +89.3% |
| 2013 | -204,641 | +21.7% |
| 2014 | -237,041 | +15.8% |
| 2015 | -210,733 | -11.1% |
| 2016 | -115,918 | -45.0% |
| 2017 | -95,264 | -17.8% |
| 2018 | -151,254 | +58.8% |
| 2019 | -214,011 | +41.5% |
| 2020 | -394,888 | +84.5% |
| 2021 | -625,191 | +58.3% |
| 2022 | -681,757 | +9.0% |
| 2023 | -626,638 | -8.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -626,638 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's -626,638 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,585. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -1134.3% | -7,198 | -88,843 |
| 2010 | -119.7% | 36,479 | -7,198 |
| 2012 | -89.3% | -88,843 | -168,147 |
| 2020 | -84.5% | -214,011 | -394,888 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.02 million | 737,978 | 1.41 million | 9 |
| 1960s | 985,220 | 776,782 | 1.27 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.20 million | 944,621 | 1.39 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 542,585 | 435,452 | 837,200 | 10 |
| 1990s | 385,416 | 252,384 | 493,837 | 10 |
| 2000s | 139,090 | 36,479 | 232,350 | 10 |
| 2010s | -149,305 | -237,041 | -7,198 | 10 |
| 2020s | -582,118 | -681,757 | -394,888 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 103,784 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.5891 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2372 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.501 (2100)
- Population density 210.83 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.83 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Japan?
- Annual population growth in Japan was -626,638 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.41 million in 1951.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -681,757 in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for annual population growth?
- Japan ranks 234th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 206.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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