In 2023, people aged 65 years and older in Japan accounted for approximately 29.6 percent of the total Japanese population. Due to a low birth rate and high longevity, people aged 65 years and older were estimated to make up almost 39 percent of the population in Japan by 2070.

Approximately 36.5 million people in Japan were estimated to be within the age group 65 and over in 2024. This number was projected to increase until 2040 and then decline to about 20.1 million by 2120.

Key information about Japan population

• The Japan population reached 123.7 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 124.3 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 128.1 million people in Dec 2010 and a record low of 43.4 million people in Dec 1899

• In the latest reports, Japan Unemployment Rate increased to 2.5 % in Oct 2024
• Monthly earnings of the Japan population was 1,957.4 USD in Oct 2024
• Japan Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 63.5 % in Oct 2024

The statistic shows the total population in Japan from 2019 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. In 2023, the total population of Japan amounted to around 124.48 million inhabitants. See the figures for the population of South Korea for comparison. Total population in Japan From steadily low fertility rates to a growing elderly population, it is no secret that Japan’s population is shrinking. Population growth rates jump around a little, but are currently following a declining trend. The post-war baby boom generation is now in the 65-and-over age group, and the percentage of the population in that category is expected to keep growing, as is indicated by a high median age and high life expectancy. Japan already has the highest percentage of its population over 65 in the world, and the aging population puts some pressure on the Japanese government to provide welfare services for more people as rising numbers leave the workforce. However, the amount of jobs opened up for the younger generations by the older generations leaving the workforce means that unemployment is kept to a minimum. Despite a jump in unemployment after the global recession hit in 2008, rates were almost back to pre-recession rates by 2013. Another factor affecting Japan is the number of emigrants to other countries. The United States absorbs a number of emigrants worldwide, so despite a stagnating birth rate, the U.S. has seen a steady rise in population.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Male: From 15 to 24 Years for Japan (LFWA24MAJPQ647S) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about 15 to 24 years, working-age, males, Japan, and population.

In 1800, the population of Japan was just over 30 million, a figure which would grow by just two million in the first half of the 19th century. However, with the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the emperor in the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japan would begin transforming from an isolated feudal island, to a modernized empire built on Western models. The Meiji period would see a rapid rise in the population of Japan, as industrialization and advancements in healthcare lead to a significant reduction in child mortality rates, while the creation overseas colonies would lead to a strong economic boom. However, this growth would slow beginning in 1937, as Japan entered a prolonged war with the Republic of China, which later grew into a major theater of the Second World War. The war was eventually brought to Japan's home front, with the escalation of Allied air raids on Japanese urban centers from 1944 onwards (Tokyo was the most-bombed city of the Second World War). By the war's end in 1945 and the subsequent occupation of the island by the Allied military, Japan had suffered over two and a half million military fatalities, and over one million civilian deaths.

The population figures of Japan were quick to recover, as the post-war “economic miracle” would see an unprecedented expansion of the Japanese economy, and would lead to the country becoming one of the first fully industrialized nations in East Asia. As living standards rose, the population of Japan would increase from 77 million in 1945, to over 127 million by the end of the century. However, growth would begin to slow in the late 1980s, as birth rates and migration rates fell, and Japan eventually grew to have one of the oldest populations in the world. The population would peak in 2008 at just over 128 million, but has consistently fallen each year since then, as the fertility rate of the country remains below replacement level (despite government initiatives to counter this) and the country's immigrant population remains relatively stable. The population of Japan is expected to continue its decline in the coming years, and in 2020, it is estimated that approximately 126 million people inhabit the island country.

Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 57.810 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 58.249 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 67.272 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.262 % in 1969 and a record low of 57.810 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % of Female Population data was reported at 7.242 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.453 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.039 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.384 % in 1990 and a record low of 5.772 % in 1960. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 40 to 44 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Japan Population: 25 to 29 Year data was reported at 6,210.000 Person th in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6,220.000 Person th for Oct 2018. Japan Population: 25 to 29 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 7,611.000 Person th from Jan 1999 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 239 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,950.000 Person th in Dec 2000 and a record low of 6,210.000 Person th in Nov 2018. Japan Population: 25 to 29 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G001: Population.

Over the last decade, Japan’s population has aged more and more, to the point where more than a quarter of Japanese were 65 years and older in 2022. Population growth has stopped and even reversed, since it’s been in the red for several years now.

It’s getting old

With almost 30 percent of its population being elderly inhabitants, Japan is considered the “oldest” country in the world today. Japan boasts a high life expectancy, in fact, the Japanese tend to live longer than the average human worldwide. The increase of the aging population is accompanied by a decrease of the total population caused by a sinking birth rate. Japan’s fertility rate has been below the replacement rate for many decades now, mostly due to economic uncertainty and thus a decreasing number of marriages.

Are the Japanese invincible?

There is no real mystery surrounding the ripe old age of so many Japanese. Their high average age is very likely due to high healthcare standards, nutrition, and an overall high standard of living – all of which could be adopted by other industrial nations as well. But with high age comes less capacity, and Japan’s future enemy might not be an early death, but rather a struggling social network.

Japan Population Census: Male: Age 35 to 39 Years data was reported at 4,204,202.000 Person in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,950,122.000 Person for 2010. Japan Population Census: Male: Age 35 to 39 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 3,859,640.500 Person from Dec 1920 (Median) to 2015, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,398,230.000 Person in 1985 and a record low of 1,707,771.000 Person in 1920. Japan Population Census: Male: Age 35 to 39 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.

This dataset provides world health statistics indicators for Japan. It includes different indicators for heath (Civil registration coverage of causes of deaths, Dentistry personnel density, Hospital beds, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence among children under 5 years etc).

PERIOD: 1920-1939. NOTE: (As of October 1st but as of September 1st in 1923)The population estimates were obtained as follows: (1) For 1921 to 1923, the population estimate is the sum of county- and city-level population estimates obtained by multiplying the de facto population in the Population Census conducted on October 1, 1920, with the average annual population growth rate by gender from 1908 to 1918. (2) For 1924, the difference between the population of Japan overall calculated using the population growth rate by sex in each city and summing up the results and the population overall calculated using the population growth rate by sex for Japan overall was proportionally subtracted from the population of each prefecture; moreover, the population decrease due to the Great Kanto Earthquake on September 1, 1923 was also taken into account. (3) For Taisho 1926 to 1929, the de facto population in the 1920 and 1925 Population Censuses is used to obtain the annual average geometric growth rate of Japan's population overall, which is then used to estimate the population. (4) For 1931 to 1934, the same procedure is employed using the de facto population in the 1920 and 1930 Population Censuses. (5) From 1926 onward, the population estimates are obtained by adding the increase in the difference between births and deaths up to each estimation year in the 1935 Population Census using the results of the Vital Statistics survey. SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].

Japan Population Census: Number of Household: Private data was reported at 53,331,797.000 Unit in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 51,842,307.000 Unit for 2010. Japan Population Census: Number of Household: Private data is updated yearly, averaging 42,285,199.000 Unit from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2015, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 53,331,797.000 Unit in 2015 and a record low of 30,297,014.000 Unit in 1970. Japan Population Census: Number of Household: Private data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.H070: Population Census: Number of Households.

Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 30 to 34 Years data was reported at 7,112.000 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,257.000 Person th for 2016. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 30 to 34 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 8,431.000 Person th from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,350.000 Person th in 1981 and a record low of 7,112.000 Person th in 2017. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 30 to 34 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.

Japan JP: Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 7,950,363.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,993,231.000 Person for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 11,629,233.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,688,228.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 7,950,363.000 Person in 2017. Japan JP: Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 0 to 14. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

In 2023, the total population in Japan slightly decreased to just below 125 million people compared to the previous year, with the female population reaching around 63.9 million, as compared to 60.5 million men. The oldest population in the world  Japanese society is facing severe demographic problems such as decreasing birthrates, remaining under one million births annually recently, and a thereby aging population. The country’s average age lies at around 48 years, making its population the oldest in the world. Elderly people aged 65 years and older accounted for about 29 percent of the population in 2023. According to a forecast, the age group 65 years and older would make up approximately 39 percent of the Japanese population by 2070. Challenges with the demographic shift The rapid aging of the society poses significant economic and sociopolitical challenges to the country, as the workforce will continue to shrink while increasingly more elderly will receive long-term support. Currently, close to seven million Japanese require long-term care, leading to national benefit expenses of over 14 trillion yen annually, including in-home and community-based services.

Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 10 to 14 Years data was reported at 5,432.000 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,514.000 Person th for 2016. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 10 to 14 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 7,986.000 Person th from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,557.000 Person th in 1961 and a record low of 5,432.000 Person th in 2017. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 10 to 14 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.

Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 0 to 4 Years data was reported at 4,909.000 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,963.000 Person th for 2016. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 0 to 4 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 6,850.000 Person th from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,022.000 Person th in 1974 and a record low of 4,909.000 Person th in 2017. Japan Population: As of 1st Oct: 0 to 4 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.

Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data was reported at 2,436,785.000 Person in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,586,167.000 Person for 2010. Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 4,070,469.500 Person from Dec 1920 (Median) to 2015, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,558,029.000 Person in 1950 and a record low of 2,436,785.000 Person in 2015. Japan Population Census: Female: Age 0 to 4 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G002: Population: Annual.