May 29, 2026 | 02:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japan's population, including foreign residents, was recorded at 123.05 million in 2025, down 3.1 million from 2020.Preliminary figures released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Friday, May 29 show that as of October 1 of last year, Japan's population was 123,049,524, a decrease of 3,096,575, or 2.5 percent, from the figure recorded in the 2020 census.Japan's population recorded its first decline in the 2015 survey since the five-yearly census began in 1920, according to Xinhua.This latest result marks the third consecutive decline, with the rate of decline widening from the 0.7 percent recorded in the previous survey to the largest decline in the census's history.The ministry attributed the population decline to the country's aging population and a widening natural decline, where deaths exceed births.With demographic trends likely to continue, the Japanese government faces increasing pressure to find ways to maintain regional communities and maintain economic vitality.By prefecture, only Tokyo and Okinawa recorded population growth compared to the previous survey.Tokyo's population increased by 199,000, while Okinawa's population increased by 1,000, although growth in both regions slowed compared to the previous census.Among the 45 prefectures experiencing population declines, Hokkaido recorded the largest drop of 239,000, followed by a decline of 164,000 in Shizuoka and 141,000 in Hyogo.Meanwhile, the number of households increased to 57,124,507, an increase of approximately 1.294 million from the previous census and the highest figure since comparable data became available in 1970.However, the average household size decreased to 2.15 people from 2.26 previously. The ministry said this likely reflects the increasing number of elderly people living alone.Final census figures are scheduled to be released in September of this year.Read: Japan: Saving Elderly People from 'Lonely Deaths'Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
