Total population (thousands) in Japan
Japan: Total population (thousands) was 123,435 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
123,435 thousands
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
12th
of 233 countries
All-time high
128,202 thousands
in 2010
All-time low
106,091 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Japan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Japan recorded 123,435 thousands for total population in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Japan peaked at 128,202 thousands in 2010 and was at its lowest, 106,091 thousands, in 1970.
That places Japan 12th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Japan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 106,091 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 107,333 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 108,571 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 109,907 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 111,322 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 112,697 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 113,945 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 115,060 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 116,088 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 117,066 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 117,977 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 118,740 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 119,248 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 119,724 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 120,174 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 120,594 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 121,070 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 121,664 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 122,224 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 122,730 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 123,165 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 123,635 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 124,145 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 124,623 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 125,057 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 125,516 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 125,829 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 126,122 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 126,410 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 126,688 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 126,915 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 127,141 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 127,380 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 127,590 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 127,753 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 127,879 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 127,948 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 128,046 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 128,129 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 128,183 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 128,202 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 128,169 thousands | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 128,024 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 127,832 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 127,615 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 127,358 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 127,193 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 127,127 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 127,003 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 126,824 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 126,575 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 126,034 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 125,324 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 124,671 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 124,071 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 123,435 thousands | -0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 123,435 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 40.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 123,435 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 87.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 111,808 thousands | 106,091 thousands | 117,066 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 120,414 thousands | 117,977 thousands | 122,730 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 125,119 thousands | 123,165 thousands | 126,688 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 127,696 thousands | 126,915 thousands | 128,183 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 127,535 thousands | 126,824 thousands | 128,202 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 125,018 thousands | 123,435 thousands | 126,575 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Japan?
- Total population in Japan was 123,435 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 128,202 thousands in 2010.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 106,091 thousands in 1970.
- How does Japan rank for total population?
- Japan ranks 12th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release