Population of Japan

As of June 2026, the population of Japan is 121.3 million. The number of inhabitants has decreased by 679 thousand in the last year, representing a decline of 0.56%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 46.3 years in 2016 to 50.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 85.3 years and population density is 321.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Japan peaked in 1950, reaching around 1.65% annually, but has since declined to approximately -0.56% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 1.47 million in 1973 to nearly -678.83 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Japan, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 82.4 years in 2006 to 85.3 years in 2026, representing an increase de 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Japan

Japan has multiple large cities with a significant number of inhabitants. The most populous city is Tokyo, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 9.7 million inhabitants. It is followed by Yokohama, Kanagawa with 3.8 million and Osaka with 2.8 million.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Japan: