Foreign Residents Hit Record High as Japan's Population Shrinks

Japan's foreign resident population has surged to a record high even as the country's overall population continues to shrink, according to the latest national census results.

Population Fell 2.5% in Five Years

The census, which compares figures between 2020 and 2025, shows that Japan's total population fell by 2.5% over the five-year period, according to a report by The Japan Times.

Key Census Figures

• Total population: down 2.5% between 2020 and 2025
• Japanese nationals: down 3.5% to 119.1 million
• Foreign residents: up 39.8% to a record high of 3.84 million
• Previous 2020 census: Japanese nationals declined by 1.4%

Faster Decline Among Japanese Nationals

The number of Japanese nationals fell 3.5% to 119.1 million. That is a steeper drop than the 1.4% decline recorded in the previous 2020 census, indicating that the pace of decline among Japanese nationals has accelerated.

Foreign Residents Climb to Record High

In contrast, the number of foreign residents climbed 39.8% to a record high of 3.84 million. The Asahi Shimbun likewise reported that foreign resident numbers have hit a record high in ever-shrinking Japan.

Two Opposing Trends

The census results highlight two opposing demographic trends: a contracting Japanese national population and a rapidly growing foreign resident community. The figures show that, despite the substantial rise in foreign residents, Japan's overall population has continued to decline.

The findings were reported by The Japan Times and The Asahi Shimbun based on the latest census results.