Japan loses nearly 1 million people in 16th straight year of population decline

The population of Japanese nationals in 2024 fell by around 908,000 from a year earlier to 120,653,227, declining for the 16th straight year and the largest drop since the current survey began in 1968, government data showed on Wednesday.The latest figures come as policymakers continue to struggle to reverse falling birth rates and regional depopulation, and while anxiety over record foreign resident numbers spurs some voters to turn to opposition parties touting slogans such as “Japanese First”.

As of January 1, 2025, the population including foreign residents was 124,330,690, a decrease of about 554,000, a demographics survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed.

While Japanese numbers fell, foreign resident totals continue to rise, reaching a record 3,677,463 people since their inclusion from the 2013 survey. Their number was up 354,089, or 10.65 per cent.

By prefecture, the northernmost main island, Hokkaido, saw the largest rise in foreign residents at 19.57 per cent.

Some 85.77 percent of foreign residents are of working age, with many filling labour shortages left by the declining native population.