Japan's Population Plunges Record 3 Million in Five Years

Japan's population fell to approximately 123 million in 2025, a record 2.5 percent decline that erased more than 3 million people from the 2020 count of 126.1 million. The drop, confirmed by preliminary census data released on May 29, 2026, represents the steepest five-year decrease since the national survey began in 1920 and marks the third consecutive five-year decline. The crisis is accelerating, with projections showing the population could fall to 87 million by 2070.

The decline is driven by a widening gap between deaths and births in a rapidly aging society. Births fell for the 10th consecutive year to 705,809, with two deaths recorded for every new birth. Children now account for only 10.8 percent of the population, the lowest proportion on record. The number of households reached a record high of over 57 million, though average household size shrank to 2.15, reflecting a rise in elderly citizens living alone.

The demographic shift is geographically uneven. Only Tokyo and Okinawa recorded population growth, while 45 of Japan's 47 prefectures shrank. The greater Tokyo area now concentrates over 30 percent of the national population. Hokkaido saw the steepest decline, and northern prefectures Akita and Aomori each lost roughly 8 percent of their residents. Rural areas face mounting labor shortages and strain on healthcare, education, and transportation systems.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara pledged to promote decentralization to regional areas and implement measures to address the crisis. Despite an increase in foreign residents to 3.21 million, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed a tougher stance on immigration, creating political tension as the government simultaneously pursues subsidies, dating apps, and parental leave policies to encourage childbirth.