Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan
Japan: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 29.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan is 29.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan peaked at 29.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 1950.
Japan ranks 74th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.8% | — |
| 1955 | 18.0% | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 19.8% | +10.1% |
| 1965 | 21.7% | +9.7% |
| 1970 | 22.8% | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 23.9% | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 24.4% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 25.0% | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 25.7% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 26.3% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 26.9% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 27.9% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 28.5% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 29.3% | +2.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 29.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Japan's 29.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.2%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.4% | 16.8% | 18.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.8% | 19.8% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 23.4% | 22.8% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 24.7% | 24.4% | 25.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 25.7% | 25.6% | 25.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.6% | 26.3% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.2% | 27.9% | 28.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 29.3% | 29.3% | 29.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2372 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.5891 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Japan was 29.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 29.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Japan ranks 74th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.