Japan's population has decreased by 3.17 million in just five years, according to final data from the 2025 national census the country had 122.97 million residents on October 1, 2025, a 2.5% decrease from 126.15 million in 2020, the largest five-year population decline since Japan began conducting its national census in 1920. Japan's population fell by just 0.7% between 2015 and 2020, compared to 2.5% in the last five-year period. The number of Japanese citizens alone fell 3.5% to 119.1 million, while the foreign population jumped 39.8% to a record 3.84 million. Almost 30% of Japan's population is currently 65 or older. Japan's demographic crisis is driven by persistently low birth rates and an aging population.

Japan's population has decreased by 3.17 million in just five years, according to final data from the 2025 national census the country had 122.97 million residents on October 1, 2025, a 2.5% decrease from 126.15 million in 2020, the largest five-year population decline since Japan began conducting its national census in 1920. Japan's population fell by just 0.7% between 2015 and 2020, compared to 2.5% in the last five-year period. The number of Japanese citizens alone fell 3.5% to 119.1 million, while the foreign population jumped 39.8% to a record 3.84 million. Almost 30% of Japan's population is currently 65 or older. Japan's demographic crisis is driven by persistently low birth rates and an aging population.