Asia · Eastern Asia
Japan Demographics
Japan combines population decline, very low fertility, long life expectancy, and one of the world’s oldest age structures.
Figures are compiled from the Statistics Bureau of Japan, World Bank World Development Indicators, UN World Population Prospects, UNdata, and UNFPA-linked demographic datasets. Source years differ, so values should be read as a compiled country profile rather than a single release.
Last updated: 5 June 2026
Key Indicators
Population
123.8 million
Population growth
-0.44%
Median age
49.8 years
Fertility rate
1.15
Life expectancy
84.0 years
Urban population
92%
Aged 65+
29.3%
Net migration
140,579
Demographic Overview
Japan’s total population was 123.8 million in the 2024 national estimate, down by 550 thousand from the previous year. The rate of decrease was 0.44%, and the total population declined for the fourteenth year in a row.
The age structure is older than in most large economies. People aged 65 and over accounted for 29.3% of the population in 2024, while the under-15 share was 11.2%. This leaves Japan with a narrow child-age base and a large older population.
Fertility remains well below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1 births per woman. The World Bank WDI value for 2024 is 1.15 births per woman, while life expectancy at birth is 84.0 years.
Migration is positive in the World Bank 2025 series, but it is not large enough to offset the longer population decline pattern. UN-style projections point to a smaller population by 2050 and 2100.
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 123.8 million | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Population growth | -0.44% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Median age | 49.8 years | 2025 | Population Trends Asia-Pacific / UN WPP |
| Fertility rate | 1.15 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 84.0 years | 2024 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Urban population share | 92% | 2024 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Population aged 0–14 | 13.830 million · 11.2% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Population aged 15–64 | 73.728 million · 59.6% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Population aged 65+ | 36.243 million · 29.3% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Net migration | 140,579 | 2025 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
Population Trend
Japan Population Trend
Historical population estimates, selected years.
Source: UN World Population Prospects and World Bank WDI compiled historical series. Values are shown in people and formatted as millions in the chart.
Historical Population
| Year | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 86.4 million | UN World Population Prospects |
| 1960 | 93.4 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 1970 | 103.7 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 1980 | 117.1 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 1990 | 123.6 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 2000 | 127.1 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 2010 | 128.1 million | World Bank WDI / UN population series |
| 2020 | 126.3 million | World Bank WDI |
| 2024 | 124.0 million | World Bank WDI |
| 2025 | 123.1 million | UNFPA / UN WPP |
Population Growth
Population Growth Rate
Recent annual population growth values show continued decline.
Source: World Bank WDI for 2020–2024; Statistics Bureau of Japan headline rate for 2024 is also reported as -0.44%.
Age Structure
Japan Age Structure
Population share by broad age group in 2024.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Current Population Estimates as of October 1, 2024.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 | 13.830 million | 11.2% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| 15–64 | 73.728 million | 59.6% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| 65+ | 36.243 million | 29.3% | 2024 | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
Native Population Pyramid
A detailed population pyramid will be added when age-sex data becomes available in the current dataset.
Broad age groups are available for this profile, but broad groups alone are not used as a population pyramid.
Median Age
Median Age
Japan’s median age is close to 50 years.
Source: Population Trends Asia-Pacific / UN World Population Prospects, 2025.
Fertility Rate
Fertility Rate Compared With Replacement Level
The fertility rate is below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1 births per woman.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Replacement level is a broad benchmark, not a country-specific estimate.
Life Expectancy
Life Expectancy at Birth
Life expectancy remains high by international standards.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024.
Urban Population
Urban Population Share
Japan is highly urbanized under national urban definitions used in the World Bank series.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Urban definitions are based on national classifications and may differ across countries.
Migration Trends
Net Migration
The latest World Bank series shows positive net migration.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2025.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration | 140,579 | 2025 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
Population Projection
Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Japan Population Projection
Selected projection years from the UN medium-variant style series.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 and UN-based public projection tables. Values are rounded.
| Year | Projected population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 119.6 million | UN WPP-based projection table |
| 2050 | 105.1 million | UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| 2075 | Data not available | Source not available in current dataset |
| 2100 | 76.8 million | UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Similar Country Comparison
The comparison uses countries often discussed alongside Japan because of aging, fertility, migration, population size, or regional context.
Aged 65+ Share Comparison
Japan has one of the highest older-population shares among large economies.
Source: World Bank WDI and national/UN-linked demographic series, latest available values.
| Country | Population | Fertility rate | Aged 65+ | Reference year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 123.8 million | 1.15 | 29.3% | 2024 |
| China | 1.41 billion | Data not available | 15% | 2024 |
| South Korea | 51.8 million | Data not available | Data not available | 2024 |
| Italy | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Source not available |
Data Sources and Methodology
This profile combines official national estimates, World Bank indicator series, and UN-linked demographic datasets. The source year is shown next to each value where available.
Official population counts and broad age-group counts come from the Statistics Bureau of Japan. Fertility, life expectancy, urban population and net migration use World Bank World Development Indicators. Projection values are rounded and should be read as scenario estimates.
Missing values are not estimated. When a figure is not present in the current dataset, the table states “Data not available”.
| Source | Reference year | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Total population, annual decrease, broad age structure |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024–2025 | Population, growth, fertility, life expectancy, urban population, net migration |
| UN World Population Prospects 2024 | 1950–2100 | Historical population context and projection values |
| UNdata Demographic Statistics Database | 2024 | Population by age, sex and residence where available |
| UNFPA / Population Trends Asia-Pacific | 2025 | Median age and selected aging indicators |
FAQ
What is Japan’s population?
Japan’s 2024 national estimate puts the total population at 123.8 million.
Is Japan’s population declining?
Yes. The 2024 estimate shows a decrease of 550 thousand from the previous year, with a population decrease rate of 0.44%.
How old is Japan’s population?
People aged 65 and over made up 29.3% of Japan’s population in 2024. The median age is listed as 49.8 years in the 2025 UN-linked dataset.
What is Japan’s fertility rate?
The World Bank WDI fertility rate for Japan is 1.15 births per woman in 2024, below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
Does migration offset Japan’s population decline?
The World Bank series shows positive net migration of 140,579 in 2025. That figure does not offset the wider decline pattern shown in population estimates and projections.
What is Japan’s projected population by 2050?
UN World Population Prospects 2024 places Japan at about 105 million in 2050 under the rounded medium-variant style projection used in this profile.