Japanese population falls below 120 million for first time in 42 years

Key facts

• Japan's population has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years.
• The number of Japanese nationals decreased by 917,000 from the previous year.
• As of January 1, the total number of Japanese nationals was 119,736,483.
• This marks the largest annual fall in the Japanese population since 1968.
• The number of foreign residents in Japan rose to a record high.
• The number of foreign residents reached 4,031,159.

Japan's total population has dipped below the 120 million mark for the first time in 42 years, according to data from January 1. The number of Japanese nationals saw a significant decrease of 917,000 from the previous year, bringing the total to 119,736,483. This represents the largest annual fall in the Japanese population since 1968.

In contrast to the decline in Japanese nationals, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record high of 4,031,159. This increase in foreign population suggests a growing reliance on non-Japanese workers to fill labor demands and potentially mitigate the effects of a shrinking native workforce. The data highlights a complex demographic landscape for Japan, characterized by a declining birthrate and an aging population, alongside an increasing presence of foreign nationals.