Japan gained 242,131 total inhabitants in 2023. The net migration in Japan recovered from a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021.

Tokyo Prefecture continued to be a magnet for domestic migration in Japan, attracting nearly ****** new residents from other prefectures in 2023. By contrast, Hiroshima Prefecture showed the highest population loss due to outbound migration within the country, with a net loss of approximately ***** migrants. Attractiveness of Tokyo The population density in the prefecture has grown over the past two decades, surpassing ***** inhabitants per square kilometer in 2020. The appealing nature of Tokyo is also reflected in the age demographics of the metropolis, with most residents falling within the working-age group of 15 to 64 years. Numerous prestigious universities and large corporations make the area a popular destination for young people with aspirations. Depopulation of rural areas The migration patterns across Japan's prefectures indicate significant regional disparities. While Tokyo leads in population size with ** million inhabitants in 2023, prefectures like Tottori struggle to retain residents, counting only about ******* people. This imbalance has prompted concerns about the sustainability of rural communities and has led to various initiatives aimed at revitalizing less populous areas. The Japanese government faces the complex task of addressing these demographic shifts while also navigating challenges resulting from a nationwide aging population due to prolonged life expectancy and fertility decline.

Graph and download economic data for Net migration for Japan (SMPOPNETMJPN) from 1962 to 2017 about migration, Japan, Net, 5-year, and population.

In 2024, approximately **** million residents of foreign nationality were registered in Japan, making up below ***** percent of the population. The total number of foreign residents increased by about ****million in the last decade. Development of immigration to Japan Except 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 ********immigrants overtook ******* as the largest minority group in 2007. People from ******* were the strongest growing minority in the 2010s. Recent immigration reform Due to its demographic changes, Japan has a relatively low unemployment rate. As a consequence, a large share of companies report 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 2019, the Japanese government enacted a major immigration reform. 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.

Historical dataset showing Japan immigration statistics by year from 1960 to 2015.

Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Female data was reported at 3.580 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.550 % for 2016. Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 4.830 % from Dec 1959 (Median) to 2017, with 59 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.360 % in 1971 and a record low of 3.550 % in 2016. Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G006: Vital Statistics: Migration.

According to an estimate, there were almost *** thousand immigrants from China living in Japan in 2019. Chinese were followed by South Koreans with an immigrant stock of more than *** thousand people.

Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data was reported at 4.290 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.270 % for 2016. Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 5.890 % from Dec 1959 (Median) to 2017, with 59 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.720 % in 1970 and a record low of 4.270 % in 2016. Japan Internal Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G006: Vital Statistics: Migration.

Historical dataset showing Japan net migration by year from 1960 to 2024.

Japan had a net increase of 240,205 foreign nationals in 2023, while it gained 1,926 Japanese nationals. That year, the net increase of the total inhabitants of Japan was 242,131.

This dataset compiles publicly available statistics from the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) and the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan for the years 2014–2023. It combines ISA data on the population of foreign residents by nationality and visa status with NPA data on the number of foreign criminal suspects by offense type and nationality. Using these sources, the dataset calculates crime rates per 1,000 population, disaggregated by nationality, visa category, and offense type. The dataset supports research on the immigrant–crime nexus, migration governance, and public safety in Japan.

Japan Inter Prefectural Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data was reported at 2.090 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.080 % for 2016. Japan Inter Prefectural Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 3.040 % from Dec 1959 (Median) to 2017, with 59 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.680 % in 1970 and a record low of 2.060 % in 2014. Japan Inter Prefectural Migrants: Annual: Migration Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G006: Vital Statistics: Migration.

As of October 2024, the United States had nearly ******* Japanese citizens, making it the country with the highest number of Japanese residents outside of Japan itself. The United States counted around **** times as many Japanese citizens as second-placed *********.  Japanese immigrants in the United States Lately, there has been an increase in the migration of Japanese individuals, especially to the United States, which has *********** immigrant population worldwide. This surge in Japanese migration to the United States can largely be attributed to the substantial presence of Japanese companies with offices in the country, which ranks among the highest globally. Consequently, many Japanese nationals choose to relocate to the United States in pursuit of employment opportunities offered by these companies.  Status of immigrants in Japan The total number of foreign residents in Japan has been rising lately, with ***** having the highest number of foreign nationals registered among 47 prefectures. The main nationality of foreign residents living in Japan are people from the ********************************************* The increasing number of foreign nationals working in Japan is indicative of the growing interest in job opportunities within the country.

In 2023, Tokyo Prefecture registered approximately ****** thousand inbound migrants from other prefectures in Japan. In contrast, Tottori Prefecture showed the lowest inbound migration within Japan, with approximately **** thousand inbound migrants.

This line chart displays net migration (people) by date using the aggregation sum in Japan. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays net migration (people) against urban population (people) in Japan. The data is about countries per year.

Japan JP: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 1.615 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.676 % for 2010. Japan JP: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.463 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.676 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.880 % in 1990. Japan JP: International Migrant Stock: % of 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. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.; Weighted average;

Of the G7 countries, Canada had the highest crude net migration rate most of the years between 2000 and 2022. In 2023, the net migration ratio of the average population in Canada reached ** per 1,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, the rate in Japan was *** per 1,000 inhabitants. Migration numbers were unusually low in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This bar chart displays net migration (people) by currency using the aggregation sum in Japan. The data is about countries per year.

This horizontal bar chart displays net migration (people) by ISO 3 country code using the aggregation sum in Japan. The data is about countries per year.