Population in Japan
Japan: Population was 124.37 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
124.37 million people
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
13th
of 239 countries
All-time high
128.19 million people
in 2009
All-time low
6.00 million people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Japan, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Japan stood at 124.37 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Japan peaked at 128.19 million people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 6.00 million people, in 1000.
That places Japan 13th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Japan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 6.00 million people | — |
| 1100 | 6.20 million people | +3.3% |
| 1200 | 6.40 million people | +3.2% |
| 1300 | 7.30 million people | +14.1% |
| 1400 | 9.30 million people | +27.4% |
| 1500 | 12.30 million people | +32.3% |
| 1600 | 17.00 million people | +38.2% |
| 1700 | 26.70 million people | +57.1% |
| 1710 | 29.00 million people | +8.6% |
| 1720 | 29.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1730 | 29.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1740 | 29.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1750 | 29.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 28.80 million people | -0.7% |
| 1770 | 28.60 million people | -0.7% |
| 1780 | 28.40 million people | -0.7% |
| 1790 | 28.20 million people | -0.7% |
| 1800 | 28.00 million people | -0.7% |
| 1801 | 28.14 million people | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 28.29 million people | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 28.43 million people | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 28.58 million people | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 28.72 million people | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 28.87 million people | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 29.02 million people | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 29.16 million people | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 29.31 million people | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 29.46 million people | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 29.61 million people | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 29.76 million people | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 29.92 million people | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 30.07 million people | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 30.22 million people | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 30.38 million people | +0.5% |
| 1817 | 30.53 million people | +0.5% |
| 1818 | 30.69 million people | +0.5% |
| 1819 | 30.82 million people | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 30.93 million people | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 31.01 million people | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 31.07 million people | +0.2% |
| 1823 | 31.10 million people | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 31.13 million people | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 31.16 million people | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 31.20 million people | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 31.23 million people | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 31.26 million people | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 31.30 million people | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 31.33 million people | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 31.36 million people | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 31.40 million people | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 31.43 million people | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 31.46 million people | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 31.50 million people | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 31.53 million people | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 31.56 million people | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 31.60 million people | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 31.63 million people | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 31.66 million people | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 31.70 million people | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 31.73 million people | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 31.76 million people | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 31.80 million people | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 31.83 million people | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 31.86 million people | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 31.90 million people | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 31.93 million people | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 31.98 million people | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 32.05 million people | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 32.14 million people | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 32.24 million people | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 32.37 million people | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 32.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 32.61 million people | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 32.74 million people | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 32.86 million people | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 32.98 million people | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 33.11 million people | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 33.23 million people | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 33.36 million people | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 33.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 33.61 million people | +0.4% |
| 1864 | 33.74 million people | +0.4% |
| 1865 | 33.87 million people | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 34.00 million people | +0.4% |
| 1867 | 34.13 million people | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 34.26 million people | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 34.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 34.58 million people | +0.5% |
| 1871 | 34.77 million people | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 34.99 million people | +0.6% |
| 1873 | 35.23 million people | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 35.47 million people | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 35.71 million people | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 35.95 million people | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 36.19 million people | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 36.44 million people | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 36.70 million people | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 36.98 million people | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 37.27 million people | +0.8% |
| 1882 | 37.58 million people | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 37.91 million people | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 38.23 million people | +0.9% |
| 1885 | 38.57 million people | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 38.90 million people | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 39.24 million people | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 39.58 million people | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 39.93 million people | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 40.29 million people | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 40.67 million people | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 41.05 million people | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 41.45 million people | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 41.86 million people | +1.0% |
| 1895 | 42.26 million people | +1.0% |
| 1896 | 42.68 million people | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 43.09 million people | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 43.51 million people | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 43.95 million people | +1.0% |
| 1900 | 44.42 million people | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 44.90 million people | +1.1% |
| 1902 | 45.41 million people | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 45.95 million people | +1.2% |
| 1904 | 46.49 million people | +1.2% |
| 1905 | 47.04 million people | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 47.59 million people | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 48.15 million people | +1.2% |
| 1908 | 48.72 million people | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 49.29 million people | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 49.88 million people | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 50.48 million people | +1.2% |
| 1912 | 51.09 million people | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 51.71 million people | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 52.34 million people | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 52.98 million people | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 53.62 million people | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 54.27 million people | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 54.93 million people | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 55.61 million people | +1.2% |
| 1920 | 56.33 million people | +1.3% |
| 1921 | 57.08 million people | +1.3% |
| 1922 | 57.86 million people | +1.4% |
| 1923 | 58.67 million people | +1.4% |
| 1924 | 59.50 million people | +1.4% |
| 1925 | 60.34 million people | +1.4% |
| 1926 | 61.19 million people | +1.4% |
| 1927 | 62.05 million people | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 62.93 million people | +1.4% |
| 1929 | 63.80 million people | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 64.67 million people | +1.4% |
| 1931 | 65.53 million people | +1.3% |
| 1932 | 66.39 million people | +1.3% |
| 1933 | 67.24 million people | +1.3% |
| 1934 | 68.11 million people | +1.3% |
| 1935 | 68.99 million people | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 69.87 million people | +1.3% |
| 1937 | 70.77 million people | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 71.69 million people | +1.3% |
| 1939 | 72.63 million people | +1.3% |
| 1940 | 73.59 million people | +1.3% |
| 1941 | 74.59 million people | +1.4% |
| 1942 | 75.61 million people | +1.4% |
| 1943 | 76.67 million people | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 77.74 million people | +1.4% |
| 1945 | 78.82 million people | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 79.92 million people | +1.4% |
| 1947 | 81.03 million people | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 82.16 million people | +1.4% |
| 1949 | 83.27 million people | +1.3% |
| 1950 | 86.44 million people | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 87.85 million people | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 89.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 1953 | 90.32 million people | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 91.41 million people | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 92.43 million people | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 93.34 million people | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 94.11 million people | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 94.85 million people | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 95.62 million people | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 96.40 million people | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 97.22 million people | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 98.08 million people | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 98.96 million people | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 99.89 million people | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 100.92 million people | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 101.89 million people | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 102.97 million people | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 104.24 million people | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 105.47 million people | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 106.71 million people | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 107.95 million people | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 109.24 million people | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 110.61 million people | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 112.01 million people | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 113.32 million people | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 114.50 million people | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 115.57 million people | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 116.58 million people | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 117.52 million people | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 118.36 million people | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 118.99 million people | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 119.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 119.95 million people | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 120.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 120.83 million people | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 121.37 million people | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 121.94 million people | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 122.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 122.95 million people | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 123.40 million people | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 123.89 million people | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 124.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 124.84 million people | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 125.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 125.67 million people | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 125.97 million people | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 126.27 million people | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 126.55 million people | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 126.80 million people | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 127.03 million people | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 127.26 million people | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 127.48 million people | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 127.67 million people | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 127.82 million people | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 127.91 million people | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 128.00 million people | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 128.09 million people | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 128.16 million people | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 128.19 million people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 128.19 million people | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 128.10 million people | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 127.93 million people | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 127.72 million people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 127.49 million people | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 127.28 million people | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 127.16 million people | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 127.06 million people | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 126.91 million people | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 126.70 million people | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 126.31 million people | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 125.68 million people | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 125.00 million people | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 124.37 million people | -0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 124.37 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.98 million people, 41.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 124.37 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 89.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +57.1% | 17.00 million people | 26.70 million people |
| 1600 | +38.2% | 12.30 million people | 17.00 million people |
| 1500 | +32.3% | 9.30 million people | 12.30 million people |
| 1400 | +27.4% | 7.30 million people | 9.30 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 6.00 million people | 6.00 million people | 6.00 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 6.20 million people | 6.20 million people | 6.20 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 6.40 million people | 6.40 million people | 6.40 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 7.30 million people | 7.30 million people | 7.30 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 9.30 million people | 9.30 million people | 9.30 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 12.30 million people | 12.30 million people | 12.30 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 17.00 million people | 17.00 million people | 17.00 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 26.70 million people | 26.70 million people | 26.70 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 29.00 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 28.80 million people | 28.80 million people | 28.80 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 28.60 million people | 28.60 million people | 28.60 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 28.40 million people | 28.40 million people | 28.40 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 28.20 million people | 28.20 million people | 28.20 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 28.65 million people | 28.00 million people | 29.31 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 30.15 million people | 29.46 million people | 30.82 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 31.14 million people | 30.93 million people | 31.30 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 31.48 million people | 31.33 million people | 31.63 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 31.82 million people | 31.66 million people | 31.98 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 32.56 million people | 32.05 million people | 33.11 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 33.81 million people | 33.23 million people | 34.41 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 35.60 million people | 34.58 million people | 36.70 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 38.42 million people | 36.98 million people | 39.93 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 42.08 million people | 40.29 million people | 43.95 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 46.80 million people | 44.42 million people | 49.29 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 52.69 million people | 49.88 million people | 55.61 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 59.97 million people | 56.33 million people | 63.80 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 68.59 million people | 64.67 million people | 72.63 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 78.34 million people | 73.59 million people | 83.27 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 91.55 million people | 86.44 million people | 95.62 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 100.60 million people | 96.40 million people | 105.47 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 112.40 million people | 106.71 million people | 117.52 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 120.67 million people | 118.36 million people | 122.95 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 125.31 million people | 123.40 million people | 126.80 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 127.76 million people | 127.03 million people | 128.19 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 127.45 million people | 126.70 million people | 128.19 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 125.34 million people | 124.37 million people | 126.31 million people | 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)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 210.83 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.83 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Japan?
- Population in Japan was 124.37 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 128.19 million people in 2009.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.00 million people in 1000.
- How does Japan rank for population?
- Japan ranks 13th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.