Japan's total population declines, number of Japanese citizens falls below 120 million for the first time in 42 years
According to the latest Report on Internal Migration in Japan released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the total population within Japan has decreased by approximately 560,000 from the previous year, reaching 123,767,642. In particular, the Japanese population continues to decline, falling below 120 million for the first time in 42 years to 119.73 million.
The Japanese population is decreasing in 46 prefectures across the country, with the exception of Tokyo. This has once again highlighted the fact that the population continues to shrink in many regions due to the effects of a declining birthrate and an aging society. On the other hand, Tokyo is the only place where the Japanese population has seen a slight increase, indicating that the concentration of the population from rural areas to urban centers remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign residents living in Japan is increasing. In this survey, the number of foreign nationals increased in every prefecture across the country, and their presence in Japanese society is growing year by year. While the population of Japan as a whole is declining, the increase in foreign residents is partially offsetting the scale of that decrease.
This data indicates that Japan's demographic structure is undergoing significant change. Moving forward, measures to address the declining birthrate and aging population, as well as building a society where foreign nationals can live alongside Japanese citizens, will remain critical issues for the country.