Japan Records Largest Population Decline in History, Dropping by 898,000 in One Year

New data confirms Japan's population fell to 120.3 million in 2024, with regional disparities and deepening demographic challenges persisting.

Japan's citizen population fell to 120.3 million as of October 2024, marking a record annual decline of 898,000 people, according to official data.
Including foreign nationals, the overall population declined by 550,000, bringing the total to 123.8 million, the 14th consecutive annual drop.
Only Tokyo and Saitama prefectures experienced population growth, while all other 45 prefectures saw declines, with Akita suffering the steepest losses.
The Japanese government continues to implement measures such as wage increases for young workers and expanded childcare support to address the low birthrate.
Despite labor shortages, Japan maintains strict immigration policies, limiting foreign workers to temporary roles while seeking long-term solutions to its demographic crisis.