Share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan
Japan: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 72.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan is 72.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan peaked at 72.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1100.
That places Japan 79th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1600s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1760s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 1 |
| 1860s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1870s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
| 1890s | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 22.6% | 22.6% | 22.6% | 1 |
| 1920s | 24.5% | 24.5% | 24.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 27.7% | 27.7% | 27.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 38.5% | 34.9% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.0% | 42.9% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.6% | 53.0% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.3% | 60.0% | 63.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.8% | 63.6% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.2% | 65.7% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.6% | 66.8% | 70.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.6% | 70.7% | 72.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.83 million people (2100)
- Population density 210.83 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.15 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 29,068 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.15 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.15 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.6% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.21 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Japan was 72.4% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1100.
- How does Japan rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Japan ranks 79th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.