According to government data, on January 1, 2026, the contingent of Japanese citizens residing in the country (excluding foreigners) totaled 119,736,483 individuals, representing a reduction of 0.76% compared to the previous year.
Japanese Demographic Trend
Japan's population has been continuously declining for 17 consecutive years, after reaching its peak in 2009. In contrast, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached its highest level since the beginning of records, as reported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Including foreign citizens, Japan's total population reaches 123.76 million.
Aging and Birth Rate
With an average age of 49.9 years, Japan holds the second oldest population on the planet, trailing only Monaco, according to the World Bank. Official data released in early June indicated that the Japanese birth rate fell to a historic low of 1.14 children per woman in 2025, exposing the demographic crisis affecting the world's fourth-largest economy.
This scenario of low fertility generates various challenges, such as labor shortages, increased social security costs, and a decrease in the contingent of contributing workers. In 2025, the number of newborns in Japan was 671,236, which represents a drop of nearly 15 thousand compared to the previous year and constitutes the lowest index since the beginning of records in 1899, considering only Japanese children born in the territory.
Government Measures and Immigration
Although immigration is often cited as a possible solution to population decline, conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi advocates for implementing more restrictive policies regarding the entry of foreigners. In recent years, Japanese authorities, at both national and local levels, have sought, with limited success, to encourage marriage and childbirth through increased support for childcare, subsidies for parental leave, and even by launching digital dating applications.
Official data this month revealed that 265 couples married after meeting through a dating application provided by the Tokyo Government in 2024.
