Urban and rural population in Japan
Japan: Urban and rural population was 113.62 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
113.62 million
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
7th
of 236 countries
All-time high
116.45 million
in 2012
All-time low
31.98 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Japan, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Japan is 113.62 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Japan peaked at 116.45 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 31.98 million, in 1950.
Japan ranks 7th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 31.98 million | — |
| 1951 | 34.75 million | +8.7% |
| 1952 | 39.01 million | +12.3% |
| 1953 | 44.01 million | +12.8% |
| 1954 | 48.84 million | +11.0% |
| 1955 | 52.51 million | +7.5% |
| 1956 | 54.79 million | +4.4% |
| 1957 | 56.56 million | +3.2% |
| 1958 | 58.09 million | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 59.54 million | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 60.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 62.48 million | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 63.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 65.46 million | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 66.95 million | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 68.50 million | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 70.01 million | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 71.59 million | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 73.30 million | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 74.99 million | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 76.69 million | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 78.49 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 80.49 million | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 82.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 84.47 million | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 85.96 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 86.99 million | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 87.88 million | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 88.69 million | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 89.45 million | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 90.16 million | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 90.73 million | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 91.22 million | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 91.71 million | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 92.18 million | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 92.67 million | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 93.23 million | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 93.82 million | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 94.40 million | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 94.92 million | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 95.44 million | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 95.98 million | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 96.54 million | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 97.06 million | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 97.58 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 98.05 million | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 98.43 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 98.78 million | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 99.12 million | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 99.47 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 99.86 million | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 100.74 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 102.69 million | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 105.23 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 107.84 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 109.95 million | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 111.55 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 113.06 million | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 114.43 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 115.52 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 116.17 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 116.39 million | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 116.45 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 116.42 million | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 116.34 million | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 116.27 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 116.29 million | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 116.33 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 116.30 million | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 116.20 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 115.92 million | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 115.47 million | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 114.97 million | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 114.52 million | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 114.09 million | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 113.62 million | -0.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 113.62 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 51.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 113.62 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 157.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 48.01 million | 31.98 million | 59.54 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 67.82 million | 60.98 million | 74.99 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.16 million | 76.69 million | 89.45 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.50 million | 90.16 million | 94.92 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.65 million | 95.44 million | 99.47 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 108.09 million | 99.86 million | 115.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 116.32 million | 116.17 million | 116.45 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 114.77 million | 113.62 million | 115.92 million | 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)
- 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 urban and rural population in Japan?
- Urban and rural population in Japan was 113.62 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 116.45 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.98 million in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for urban and rural population?
- Japan ranks 7th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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