July 28, 2026

Japan's Japanese Population Falls Below 120 Million for First Time in 42 Years as Foreign Residents Top Four Million

Japan has reached a historic demographic milestone. The country's Japanese population has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, while the number of foreign residents has exceeded four million for the first time, highlighting the nation's accelerating population decline and its growing reliance on overseas residents.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of Japanese nationals registered as residents stood at 119,736,483 as of January 1, 2026, down 916,744 from the previous year. It marked the 17th consecutive annual decline and the largest year-on-year decrease, both in absolute numbers and percentage, since comparable records began in 1968.

Tokyo was the only prefecture to record an increase in its Japanese population, while the remaining 46 prefectures all experienced declines. Hokkaido recorded the largest numerical decrease, while Akita Prefecture posted the steepest percentage decline.

Japan's natural population change—the difference between births and deaths—also reached a record low, with deaths exceeding births by 923,008, underscoring the country's rapidly aging society and persistently low birthrate.

In sharp contrast, the number of foreign residents climbed by 353,696 to a record 4,031,159, accounting for 3.26% of Japan's total population. The number of people entering Japan from overseas also reached an all-time high of 720,988, reflecting the country's increasing dependence on international workers and residents to help offset labor shortages.

Including both Japanese and foreign residents, Japan's total population stood at 123,767,642, down 563,048 from a year earlier. Only Tokyo, Osaka and Chiba recorded overall population growth.

Foreign residents are also significantly younger than Japan's population as a whole. More than 86% are of working age (15–64), compared with just under 60% of the total population, making them an increasingly important part of Japan's workforce. Tokyo had the highest concentration of foreign residents, who accounted for 5.57% of the capital's total population, with people aged 25 to 29 representing the largest age group.

As Japan confronts a shrinking and aging population, the latest figures underscore a profound demographic transformation that is reshaping the country's economy, labor market, and society.