Over 821,800 people of Chinese nationality lived in Japan as of the end of 2023, marking the highest number of migrant citizens. The Vietnamese residents in the country exceeded 565,000 in the same period.

In 2023, about 2.7 percent of the population in Japan were foreign nationals, up from about 1.7 percent in 2014. The total number of foreign residents in the same year amounted to approximately 3.4 million people.

In 2023, approximately 3.4 million residents of foreign nationality were registered in Japan, making up below three percent of the population. The total number of foreign residents increased by almost 1.3 million in the last decade. Development of immigration to JapanExcept for a large minority of people of Korean descent who have lived in Japan since the first half of the twentieth century, immigration of people from other countries did not become an issue in Japan until the 1980s when the economy required more labor. A revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 1990 allowed people of Japanese descent, so-called nikkeijin, to enter the country and work without restrictions. The nikkeijin who entered Japan in the years that followed mainly came from Brazil and other South American countries. Chinese immigration increased as well throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. A breakdown of foreign residents by major nationalities shows that Chinese immigrants overtook Koreans as the largest minority group in 2007. People from Vietnam were the strongest growing minority in the 2010s. Recent immigration reformDue to its demographic changes, Japan has a relatively low unemployment rate. As a consequence, a large share of companies reports labor shortages. The temporary immigration of foreign workers is considered one of the possible solutions to this problem, next to the increasing labor market participation of women and the elderly. In December 2018, the Japanese parliament passed a major immigration reform that became enacted in April 2019. The reform allowed lower- and semi-skilled workers to enter the country and work in one of 14 different industries suffering from a lack of labor. The vast majority of participants are not allowed to bring their family members and are expected to return to their respective countries after their terms in Japan end.

Bond Investments by Japanese abroad decreased by 118 billion yen in the week ending May 31 of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Foreign Bond Investment - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The number of foreign nationals working in Japan amounted to around 2.3 million people as of October 2024. It was the second time the number of foreign workers exceeded the two million mark. Foreign workers in Japan The number of foreign workers in Japan has risen considerably within the last decade. Over one-quarter of workers were employed in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan’s capital and economic and financial center. In terms of the number of people employed, the manufacturing industry continued to be the most important employer of foreign labor. The majority of foreign workers came from countries in Asia, with workers from Vietnam making up the largest share at around 25 percent. Population decline and severe labor shortages Just a decade ago, the number of foreign workers was below one million. That was less than one percent of a population of over 127 million. Today, amid its aging population and a shrinking labor force, Japan is facing severe labor shortages in some industries. A growing number of businesses are reliant on foreign labor, and the government has recently announced a number of policy amendments to attract more workers to Japan. This includes plans to expand the specified skilled workers program and to abolish and replace the controversial technical intern training program.

Nearly 822,000 people from China lived in Japan as of 2023. The Vietnamese population recorded strong growth recently, as many people from Vietnam entered Japan as participants of the technical intern training program or as students.

Japan foreign direct investment for 2023 was 19.98 billion US dollars, a 58.37% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Japan foreign direct investment for 2022 was <strong>48.00 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>37.05% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Japan foreign direct investment for 2021 was <strong>35.03 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>44.03% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Japan foreign direct investment for 2020 was <strong>62.58 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>56.62% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Botswana data was reported at 43.000 Person in Dec 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 43.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Botswana data is updated semiannually, averaging 32.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.000 Person in Dec 2016 and a record low of 25.000 Person in Dec 2014. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Botswana data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Samoa data was reported at 70.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Samoa data is updated semiannually, averaging 65.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.000 Person in Dec 2017 and a record low of 54.000 Person in Jun 2013. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Samoa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Key information about Japan Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Japan Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 1,108.4 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 1,096.8 USD bn in the previous month
• Japan Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Apr 2000 to Feb 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,319.9 USD bn in Jul 2020 and a record low of 324.1 USD bn in Apr 2000

CEIC calculates monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves as the sum of Foreign Currency Reserves and Other Reserve Assets, which include other financial instruments denominated in foreign currency.2. The Ministry of Finance provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD.


Further information about Japan Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Japan Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 16.2 Months of Import in Jan 2025.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 10,151.2 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024.
• Japan Domestic Credit reached 11,754.7 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 1.3 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.2 % in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.3 % in the previous half a year.
• Household Debt of Japan reached 65.1 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 65.1 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: China data was reported at 730,890.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 711,486.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: China data is updated semiannually, averaging 656,403.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 730,890.000 Person in Dec 2017 and a record low of 647,310.000 Person in Jun 2013. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: China data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Gambia data was reported at 71.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 65.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Gambia data is updated semiannually, averaging 41.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.000 Person in Dec 2017 and a record low of 22.000 Person in Dec 2012. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Gambia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Saint Vincent data was reported at 5.000 Person in Dec 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Saint Vincent data is updated semiannually, averaging 5.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.000 Person in Dec 2012 and a record low of 5.000 Person in Dec 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Saint Vincent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Japan was reported at 0.48617 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Belgium data was reported at 861.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 829.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Belgium data is updated semiannually, averaging 701.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 861.000 Person in Dec 2017 and a record low of 625.000 Person in Dec 2013. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Belgium data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Foreign exchange reserves, billion currency units in Japan, March, 2025 The most recent value is 1272.51 billion U.S. Dollar as of March 2025, an increase compared to the previous value of 1253.28 billion U.S. Dollar. Historically, the average for Japan from January 1960 to March 2025 is 438.05 billion U.S. Dollar. The minimum of 1.45 billion U.S. Dollar was recorded in January 1960, while the maximum of 1424.28 billion U.S. Dollar was reached in August 2021. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

As of October 2023, around 25.3 percent of foreign workers in Japan were Vietnamese. Vietnamese workers therefore constituted the largest group among the increasing number of foreign workers in the country. Chinese workers came in second, accounting for 19.4 percent of foreign workers. Rising number of foreign workers The number of foreign nationals working in Japan rose by 12.4 percent in 2023, topping two million for the first time. Despite the significant increase in people seeking work in Japan over the past decade, foreign nationals only comprised around three percent of the total labor force. The largest proportion of people working in Japan worked in professional or technical fields. A similar share was residing in the country based on their civil status. Businesses in need of foreign workers Amid a shrinking workforce and severe labor shortages in some industries, many employers dependent on workers from abroad to secure their business. Over 342 businesses in Japan were reported to employ foreign workers, an increase of 7.3 percent compared to 2023. Manufacturing, services, and wholesale and retail together accounted for over 54 percent of the number of workers employed. Over one-third of foreign workers were working for small businesses which employed less than 30 people.

As of January 2024, more than 257,000 residents from China were registered in Tokyo Prefecture, accounting for the largest share of foreign nationals. The second-largest group of foreign nationals living in the prefecture were from South Korea.

Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Zambia data was reported at 134.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 117.000 Person for Jun 2017. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Zambia data is updated semiannually, averaging 80.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 134.000 Person in Dec 2017 and a record low of 63.000 Person in Dec 2013. Japan Number of Foreign Residents: Zambia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Justice. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G008: Foreign Resident Statistics.

Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) in Japan was reported at 170579891214 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.