Japan's total population has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, with a significant drop in Japanese nationals. As of January 1, the number of Japanese citizens decreased by 917,000 from the previous year, marking the largest decline since 1968. Concurrently, Japan's foreign resident population reached a new record of over 4.12 million by the end of December 2025, an increase of 9.5% year-on-year, with a notable rise in specified skilled workers contributing to labor shortages.
Japan's overall population has dipped below the 120 million mark for the first time in 42 years, driven by a substantial decrease in its Japanese national population. As of January 1, the number of Japanese nationals fell by 917,000 compared to the previous year, reaching 119,736,483. This represents the largest year-on-year decline recorded since 1968. In contrast to the shrinking Japanese populace, the foreign resident population in Japan has surged to a record high. By the end of December 2025, the total number of foreign residents stood at 4,125,395, reflecting a 9.5% increase from the prior year. This growth is partly attributed to a significant rise in the number of "specified skilled workers," a category designed to address labor shortages in critical Japanese industries. The increase in foreign workers highlights ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of a declining birthrate and an aging population on the nation's workforce.