Japan's Population Declines, Falling Below 120 Million for the First Time in 42 Years
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the population of Japanese nationals living in Japan has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years. Compared to last year's survey, the Japanese population has decreased by 910,000, standing at 119.73 million.
The total population of Japan is 123,760,642, a decrease of 563,048 compared to the previous year. While this figure includes foreign residents living in Japan, the number of Japanese nationals has declined in all 46 prefectures excluding Tokyo, indicating that the nationwide population decline continues.
On the other hand, the number of foreign residents in Japan is increasing. In this survey, the number of foreign nationals rose by 350,000, with results showing an increase in every prefecture compared to the previous year.
Within Japan, while the Japanese population continues to shrink due to the effects of a declining birthrate and an aging society, the presence of foreign nationals is becoming increasingly important as a labor force to support society. Many people are paying close attention to how Japanese society will change in the future.