Japan records population drop of over 3mn in five years

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Across all prefectures, only Tokyo and Okinawa recorded population growth.

Japan’s population, including foreign residents, fell to 123.05mn as of 1 October 2025, marking a decline of around 3.09mn, or 2.5%, from the previous survey conducted five years earlier, according to preliminary data from the country’s 2025 national census cited by Nikkei Asia and The Japan Times.

Conducted every five years, the nationwide census now recorded its third consecutive population decline since 2015, as well as the steepest drop to date.

The data showed that across Japan’s prefectures, only Tokyo and Okinawa recorded population growth, while the remaining 45 saw declines. Notably, Saitama and Chiba reported population decreases for the first time since the census began in 1920.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications attributed the decline to the country’s ageing population and widening natural decrease, where deaths outnumber births. The downward trend is expected to persist as the birth rate continues to fall.

Population concentration in major urban areas has also intensified. Tokyo remains the most populous prefecture at 14.24mn residents, which comprises 11.6% of the national population. The combined population of the Tokyo metropolitan area – including the four prefectures of Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, and Kanagawa – reached approximately 36.99mn, accounting for 30.1% of the national total and exceeding the 30% threshold for the first time.

Meanwhile, the number of households rose by 2.3% to 57.12mn compared with the previous survey, while the average household size declined to 2.15 in 2025 – the smallest since 1970 – indicating a rise in single-person households.

According to United Nations' population estimates for 2025, Japan is the world’s 12^th most populous country, accounting for 1.5% of the global population. Among the top 20 most populous countries, Japan, China, Russia, and Thailand recorded population declines between 2020 and 2025, with Japan experiencing the steepest decrease.

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