Official statistics say the number of Japanese nationals living in the country dropped by an all-time record 900,000 people. As the current government fails to address the issue, an anti-immigration party makes gains.
The population of Japan went down by more than 900,000 people in 2024, an all-time high since records began in 1968, according to official data.
This is the 16th straight year in which the Japanese population shrinks, with the drop leaving it at 124.3 million people, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Japanese nationals aged 65 or over made up 30% of the country’s population, while 60% of Japanese nationals were between 15 and 64.
What else do we know about Japan’s declining population?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the figures a “quiet emergency,” promising more government measures to try and counter the trend.
According to NHK, Tokyo is the most populous city in Japan with 14 million residents, with the population growing in the capital city and Chiba Prefecture.
The number of foreign nationals in Japan, however, was 3.67 million people as of January 1, 2025, making it the highest number since records began in 2013.
The Japanese government has been struggling to raise the population’s low birth rates, with a new anti-immigration party appealing to voters by falsely blaming foreigners for the economical situation in the country.
Foreign nationals are essential to the Japanese economy, as they help address labor shortages amid the country’s ageing population.
According to the World Bank, Japan has the second-oldest population in the world after Monaco.
Edited by: Rana Taha
DW News
