"This Is a First": Japan’s Native Population Is Disappearing... What’s Happening?

Japanese Population Declines for 17 Consecutive Years
Drops Below 120 Million for the First Time in 42 Years
Worsening Low Birth Rate and Aging Society

.

Japan’s domestic population has dropped below 120 million for the first time in 42 years since 1984, highlighting the sharp impact of its declining birth rate and rapidly aging society. Even though the number of foreign nationals living in Japan surpassed 4 million for the first time in history, reaching an all-time high, this surge was not enough to offset the record plunge in births and the steep rise in deaths, leading to significant natural population decline.

Japan’s population (excluding foreigners) dips below 120 million for the first time in 42 years

According to demographic statistics released by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on July 31, as of January 1 this year, the number of Japanese nationals was recorded at 119,736,483. This represents a decrease of 916,744 people (0.76%) compared to the previous year, marking the 17th consecutive year of decline in the Japanese population. It is the first time since 1984 that Japan’s population has fallen below 120 million.

Women holding their infants in a park in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The natural decline in population, driven by accelerating low birth rates and aging demographics, has become even more severe. Last year, the number of Japanese births fell to a record low of 670,467. In contrast, the number of deaths reached 1,593,475, resulting in a natural decrease—deaths minus births—of as many as 923,008 people.

Foreign population surpasses 4 million, but challenges persist

The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan increased across all 47 prefectures, rising to 4,031,159. This is the first time the foreign population has exceeded 4 million since the relevant statistics began being compiled in 2013. The number surged by 353,696 people (9.62%) over the previous year, with foreigners now making up 3.26% of the total population.

The number of new arrivals from overseas also hit a record high of 720,988. However, despite this growth in foreign arrivals, it was not enough to halt the overall decline of the Japanese population.

Regional population disparities are also intensifying. Of the country’s 47 prefectures, Tokyo was the only one to see an increase in its Japanese population. Tokyo accounted for 11.10% of the total Japanese population, and when combined with the major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kansai, these three regions made up nearly 50% of the nation’s Japanese population. This highlights the accelerating risk of population outflow and disappearance in regional areas, while population concentration in metropolitan areas has become even more pronounced.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.