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Japanese Population Falls Below 120 Million as Foreign Population Reaches Record High

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Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has released new population figures showing that the country’s demographic decline continues to accelerate, as Japanese citizens have fallen below 120 million for the first time in more than four decades, while the country’s foreign resident population has surpassed four million for the first time, setting a new record.

As of January 1, 2026, the number of Japanese citizens stood at 119,736,483, marking the first time the figure has fallen below 120 million since 1984. The population declined by approximately 917,000 people compared to the previous year, the largest annual drop since comparable records began in 1968.

During the past year, the country recorded roughly 1.59 million deaths, while births fell to another record low of approximately 670,000. It also marks the 17th consecutive year that Japan’s citizen population has declined.

Of Japan’s 47 prefectures, 46 recorded a decrease in their Japanese population. Tokyo was the only prefecture to post an increase, growing by 0.09%. Akita Prefecture experienced the steepest decline at 1.95%, followed by Aomori and Kochi, both of which fell 1.70%.

The number of foreign residents increased by approximately 354,000 people over the previous year to reach 4,031,159, the highest level since the government began tracking the statistic separately in 2013. Unlike the Japanese population, the number of foreign residents increased in every prefecture, not just Tokyo.

The contrasting trends illustrate how immigration is partially offsetting Japan’s shrinking domestic population. While falling birth rates and an aging society continue reducing the number of Japanese citizens, more people from overseas are choosing to live and work in Japan.

The report also comes as Japan experiences an unprecedented tourism boom. The country welcomed record numbers of overseas visitors in 2025, and the growing foreign resident population suggests more visitors are also choosing to remain in Japan for work, study, or long-term residence. At the same time, the government has been tightening certain permanent residency requirements while expanding programs designed to address labor shortages.

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