Japan's population marks steepest decline since census records began in 1920

Japan’s population, including foreign residents, fell to 123,049,524 in 2025, down 3,096,575, or 2.5%, from the previous census in 2020, according to preliminary figures released on May 29, 2026.

The drop is the largest since the census began in 1920 and marks the third straight population decline since 2015.

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A nation greying by the year

The figures underscore how sharply Japan’s demographic imbalance has widened.

Officials attributed the fall to an aging population and a growing natural decrease, in which deaths outnumber births. Separate preliminary health ministry data released in February showed that births in Japan fell for the 10th consecutive year in 2025, dropping to 705,809, the lowest level since comparable records began in 1899.

All roads appear to lead to Tokyo

The census also showed how population concentration in the capital region continues to intensify.

Tokyo and Okinawa were the only prefectures to record growth compared with the previous survey, while the other 45 prefectures declined. The Tokyo metropolitan area’s share of the national population reached 30.1% as of Oct. 1, 2025, the first time it has crossed the 30% threshold.

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Tomorrow's workforce grows harder to find

The latest census adds fresh weight to long-running concerns over labor supply, regional depopulation and the fiscal burden of supporting an older society.

With births continuing to slide and the population contracting across most of the country, the data point to more pressure on local communities outside major urban centers, even as Tokyo remains a magnet for residents.