Tokyo, August 7:
Japan’s native population fell by a record 908,000 in 2024, marking the steepest annual decline since official records began in 1968, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. As of January 1, 2025, the number of Japanese nationals stood at 120,653,227 — extending a population decline streak to 16 consecutive years.
The overall population, including foreign residents, dropped to 124,330,690 — a net decrease of 554,000 from the previous year. However, foreign residents increased significantly, reaching a record 3,677,463 — a 10.65% rise or 354,089 more than the previous year. Foreign nationals have been included in the survey since 2013.
Hokkaido recorded the sharpest increase in foreign residents at 19.57%, while approximately 85.77% of foreign nationals are of working age, helping to address Japan’s growing labour shortages caused by its ageing population.
Despite the boost from immigration, Japan’s birth rate continues to plunge. The country registered only 687,689 births in 2024 — the lowest ever — while deaths soared to a record 1.59 million. The sharpest declines in native population were reported in Akita (1.91%), Aomori (1.72%), and Kochi (1.71%) prefectures. The national average decline was 0.75%.
Tokyo was the only prefecture to report a rise in native population (0.13%), primarily due to internal migration. When foreign nationals are included, only Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture recorded overall population growth.
Citizens aged 65 and above now comprise 29.58% of the population, while those aged 15 to 64 make up 59.04%.
The rise in foreign residents has sparked political debate, with nationalist parties such as Sanseito gaining traction on a “Japanese First” platform amid rising living costs and concerns over immigration system misuse.
