Tokyo: Japan’s population of Japanese nationals has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, highlighting the country’s deepening demographic crisis despite continued government efforts to reverse the trend.
According to data released by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of Japanese nationals stood at 119,736,483 as of January 1, 2026, a decline of 917,000 from the previous year. It is the largest annual fall since comparable records began in 1968.
Record Decline as Japanese Nationals Drop by Over 9 Lakh
The latest figures show that only Tokyo recorded an increase in the number of Japanese nationals, with a modest growth of 0.09 per cent. The remaining 46 prefectures witnessed population declines.
Including foreign residents, Japan’s total population stood at 123,767,642, down by approximately 563,000 compared to last year. Population growth was recorded only in Tokyo, Chiba and Osaka prefectures.
Foreign Resident Population Reaches All-Time High
While the number of Japanese nationals declined, the population of foreign residents rose by 354,000 to a record 4,031,159, the highest since the government began tracking the data in 2013.
The increase reflects Japan’s growing dependence on foreign workers and residents to address labour shortages caused by its ageing population and declining birth rate.
Falling Birth Rate Continues to Challenge Japan
The latest population figures come months after government data showed that Japan’s child population had fallen to a record low of 13.29 million as of April 1, marking the 45th consecutive year of decline. Children under the age of 15 now account for only 10.8 per cent of the country’s total population—the lowest level since records began in 1950.
Despite measures such as increased financial support for families, Japan has struggled to reverse its demographic decline. The government has declared the period leading up to 2030 as its “final opportunity” to tackle the falling birth rate and stabilise the population.