Population growth rates in Japan
Japan: Population growth rates was -0.482 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-0.482
Change on year
up 7.8%
World rank
212th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.73
in 1950
All-time low
-0.565
in 2021
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rates in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rates in Japan is -0.482, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.8% on the previous year and down 183.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rates in Japan peaked at 1.73 in 1950 and was at its lowest, -0.565, in 2021.
Japan ranks 212th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth rates in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.73 | — |
| 1951 | 1.5 | -13.1% |
| 1952 | 1.4 | -6.6% |
| 1953 | 1.25 | -11.0% |
| 1954 | 1.14 | -8.9% |
| 1955 | 1.08 | -5.2% |
| 1956 | 0.897 | -16.8% |
| 1957 | 0.741 | -17.4% |
| 1958 | 0.821 | +10.8% |
| 1959 | 0.809 | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 0.81 | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 0.88 | +8.6% |
| 1962 | 0.879 | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 0.911 | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 0.964 | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 1.08 | +11.9% |
| 1966 | 0.839 | -22.2% |
| 1967 | 1.26 | +50.5% |
| 1968 | 1.19 | -5.5% |
| 1969 | 1.17 | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 1.16 | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 1.15 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 1.22 | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 1.28 | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 1.23 | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 1.1 | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 0.974 | -11.5% |
| 1977 | 0.889 | -8.7% |
| 1978 | 0.839 | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 0.776 | -7.5% |
| 1980 | 0.644 | -17.0% |
| 1981 | 0.427 | -33.7% |
| 1982 | 0.398 | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 0.376 | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 0.349 | -7.2% |
| 1985 | 0.393 | +12.6% |
| 1986 | 0.489 | +24.4% |
| 1987 | 0.459 | -6.1% |
| 1988 | 0.414 | -9.8% |
| 1989 | 0.353 | -14.7% |
| 1990 | 0.381 | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 0.411 | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 0.384 | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 0.348 | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 0.367 | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 0.249 | -32.2% |
| 1996 | 0.233 | -6.4% |
| 1997 | 0.228 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 0.22 | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 0.179 | -18.6% |
| 2000 | 0.178 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 0.188 | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 0.165 | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 0.128 | -22.4% |
| 2004 | 0.098 | -23.4% |
| 2005 | 0.054 | -44.9% |
| 2006 | 0.077 | +42.6% |
| 2007 | 0.064 | -16.9% |
| 2008 | 0.042 | -34.4% |
| 2009 | 0.015 | -64.3% |
| 2010 | -0.026 | -273.3% |
| 2011 | -0.113 | +334.6% |
| 2012 | -0.15 | +32.7% |
| 2013 | -0.17 | +13.3% |
| 2014 | -0.201 | +18.2% |
| 2015 | -0.13 | -35.3% |
| 2016 | -0.053 | -59.2% |
| 2017 | -0.097 | +83.0% |
| 2018 | -0.141 | +45.4% |
| 2019 | -0.197 | +39.7% |
| 2020 | -0.428 | +117.3% |
| 2021 | -0.565 | +32.0% |
| 2022 | -0.523 | -7.4% |
| 2023 | -0.482 | -7.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -0.482 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.492. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's -0.482 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.69. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rates 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 | -334.6% | -0.026 | -0.113 |
| 2010 | -273.3% | 0.015 | -0.026 |
| 2020 | -117.3% | -0.197 | -0.428 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.14 | 0.741 | 1.73 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.9986 | 0.81 | 1.26 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.06 | 0.776 | 1.28 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4302 | 0.349 | 0.644 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 0.179 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1009 | 0.015 | 0.188 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1278 | -0.201 | -0.026 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4995 | -0.565 | -0.428 | 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 population growth rates in Japan?
- Population growth rates in Japan was -0.482 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rates recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.73 in 1950.
- What is the lowest population growth rates recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.565 in 2021.
- How does Japan rank for population growth rates?
- Japan ranks 212th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rates rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 183.5%. 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 Population growth rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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