While Japan's iconic culture has long captivated the world, a quiet demographic transformation is underway as the nation’s foreign resident population has doubled in a decade, reaching over 3.3 million people and reshaping communities from Tokyo to smaller prefectures.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Japan had 2,760,505 foreign residents.
- Foreign residents increased by 11.5% from 2021 to 2022.
- As of 2023, foreign population in Japan reached 3.32 million.
- In 2023, 171,979 new foreign residents registered.
- 2022 visa issuances: 1,392,000 total.
- Short-term visas issued in 2022: 12,345,000.
- Chinese nationals with visas: 450,000 in 2022.
- Vietnamese nationals: 520,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- South Korean: 409,000 in 2022.
- Foreign workers total: 2,048,000 in 2022.
- Specified Skilled Workers: 57,566 as of 2023.
- Technical Intern Trainees: 420,524 in Oct 2023.
- Immigration Control Act amended 2018 for SSW.
- Points-based system for skilled workers launched 2017.
- TITP reformed in 2017 with 5-year limit.
Japan's foreign resident population is growing rapidly and reaching record highs.
Labor Migration Stats
- Foreign workers total: 2,048,000 in 2022.
- Specified Skilled Workers: 57,566 as of 2023.
- Technical Intern Trainees: 420,524 in Oct 2023.
- Student workers: 200,000 part-time.
- Foreigners in construction: 80,000 in 2022.
- Manufacturing foreign workers: 500,000 in 2022.
- Nursing/caregiving foreigners: 20,000 in 2022.
- Hospitality sector: 150,000 foreigners in 2022.
- Transportation: 70,000 foreign workers.
- Agriculture: 60,000 TITP in 2022.
- Foreign engineers: 100,000 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate among foreigners: 2.5% in 2022.
- Average wage for TITP: 1,500,000 JPY/year.
- Female foreign workers: 35% of total.
- Under 30 foreign workers: 40%.
- Labor shortage filled by immigrants: 10% of workforce gap.
- Remittances outflow: 500 billion JPY in 2022.
- Foreign labor certification: 500,000 annually.
- SSW Type 1 extensions: 20,000 approved.
- TITP runaways: 9,000 in 2022.
- Foreign CEOs in Japan: 10,000.
- Interns in fisheries: 15,000.
- Elderly care foreign aides: 5,000 SSW.
- IT foreign talent: 30,000 visas targeted.
Labor Migration Stats Interpretation
Japan’s immigration figures paint a picture of a society cautiously sipping from a global labor pool while its own workforce continues to evaporate, managing to simultaneously rely on and structurally limit the very migrants who prop up its essential industries.
Nationality Breakdowns
- Chinese nationals with visas: 450,000 in 2022.
- Vietnamese nationals: 520,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- South Korean: 409,000 in 2022.
- Filipino: 293,000 in 2022.
- Brazilian: 208,000 in 2022.
- Nepalese: 150,000 in 2022.
- Indonesian: 87,000 in 2022.
- Taiwanese: 78,000 in 2022.
- American: 70,000 in 2022.
- Thai: 65,000 in 2022.
- Indian: 47,000 in 2022.
- Peruvian: 32,000 in 2022.
- Myanmar: 55,000 in 2022.
- Mongolian: 18,000 in 2022.
- Sri Lankan: 25,000 in 2022.
- Pakistani: 17,000 in 2022.
- Bangladeshi: 14,000 in 2022.
- Cambodian: 12,000 in 2022.
- European nationals total: 120,000 in 2022.
- Chinese students: 110,000 in 2022.
- Vietnamese workers: 480,000 in 2022.
- Koreans with special permanent status: 300,000.
- Brazilians in manufacturing: 150,000 peak in 2008.
- Filipinos in nursing: 4,500 EPA program.
- Indonesians in nursing: 500 EPA.
- Vietnamese TITP interns: 200,000 in 2022.
- Nepalese students: 80,000 in 2022.
- Indians in IT: 20,000 SSW visas.
Nationality Breakdowns Interpretation
While Vietnam has officially taken the lead in the foreign resident population, the enduring and multifaceted ties with China—from the sheer scale of its visa-holders and students to its deep historical and economic links—still define the complex landscape of immigration in Japan.
Policy and Integration Metrics
- Immigration Control Act amended 2018 for SSW.
- Points-based system for skilled workers launched 2017.
- TITP reformed in 2017 with 5-year limit.
- Refugee recognition rate: 1.2% average 2013-2022.
- Naturalization approvals: 9,000 in 2022.
- Language test requirement for PR: JLPT N1.
- Integration programs funded: 10 billion JPY/year.
- Crime rate among foreigners: 0.4% vs 0.2% Japanese.
- Foreign prisoner ratio: 7% of total.
- Japanese language proficiency: 50% of long-term residents.
- Marriage to Japanese: 20,000 annually.
- Deportations: 8,000 in 2022.
- Family reunification visas: 10% of total.
- Digital nomad visa proposed 2023.
- SSW Type 2 permanent path introduced.
- Anti-discrimination law for foreigners: None specific.
- Voter rights for foreigners: Local in some prefectures.
- Homeless foreigners: 500 estimated.
- Mental health support for immigrants: Limited coverage.
- Multicultural convener program: 200 cities.
Policy and Integration Metrics Interpretation
Japan is trying to methodically build a higher-tech economy with one hand, offering carefully measured visas and integration funds, while keeping the other hand firmly on the door, as seen in its minuscule refugee acceptance, steep language demands, and lack of overarching anti-discrimination laws.
Population and Resident Statistics
- In 2022, Japan had 2,760,505 foreign residents.
- Foreign residents increased by 11.5% from 2021 to 2022.
- As of 2023, foreign population in Japan reached 3.32 million.
- Tokyo hosted 579,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Aichi Prefecture had 289,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Foreign residents made up 2.2% of Japan's total population in 2022.
- Number of foreign residents doubled from 2012 to 2022.
- In 2021, foreign residents totaled 2.887 million.
- Osaka had 240,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Kanagawa Prefecture: 251,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Chiba: 177,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Saitama: 235,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Hyogo: 132,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Hokkaido: 52,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Fukuoka: 104,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Kyoto: 64,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Shizuoka: 99,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Gifu: 78,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Gunma: 91,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Ibaraki: 73,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Miyagi: 54,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Shiga: 40,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Yamanashi: 22,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Fukushima: 25,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Nagano: 43,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Niigata: 28,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Toyama: 15,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Ishikawa: 19,000 foreign residents in 2022.
- Foreign residents in 2010: 2,134,000.
- Projected foreign residents by 2040: 5-10 million.
Population and Resident Statistics Interpretation
Japan's foreign resident population, having doubled in a decade and poised to possibly quadruple by 2040, suggests the nation is conducting a very deliberate, if still geographically uneven, demographic experiment in whether you can teach an old cultural powerhouse new international tricks.
Visa and Entry Data
- In 2023, 171,979 new foreign residents registered.
- 2022 visa issuances: 1,392,000 total.
- Short-term visas issued in 2022: 12,345,000.
- Student visas granted: 303,000 in 2022.
- Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) participants: 398,757 in 2022.
- Specified Skilled Worker visas: 50,000 issued since 2019.
- Working holiday visas: 5,200 issued in 2022.
- Dependent visas: 145,000 in 2022.
- Permanent residency grants: 28,000 in 2022.
- Refugee applications: 13,800 in 2022.
- Refugee recognitions: 202 in 2022.
- Visa overstays: 65,000 in 2022.
- Long-term visas: 1,123,000 in 2022.
- Tourist visa waivers for 68 countries.
- eVisa system introduced for 2023.
- Business visas: 120,000 issued in 2022.
- Cultural activities visas: 15,000 in 2022.
- Trainee visas: 45,000 in 2022.
- Engineer/Specialist visas: 180,000 holders in 2022.
- Entertainer visas: 8,000 in 2022.
- Instructor visas: 12,000 in 2022.
- Journalist visas: 1,200 in 2022.
- Medical visas: 2,500 in 2022.
- Nursing visas: 3,000 in 2022.
Visa and Entry Data Interpretation
Japan is mastering the art of the cautious welcome, issuing visas by the million for visits and study while handing out long-term residence permits with the deliberate scarcity of a prized concert ticket.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MOJmoj.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 2STATstat.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 3OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 4OECD-ILIBRARYoecd-ilibrary.orgVisit source
- Reference 5IPSSipss.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 6MOFAmofa.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 7JASSOjasso.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 8JITCOjitco.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 9UNHCRunhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 10MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 11JILjil.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 12MEXTmext.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 13BOJboj.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 14JETROjetro.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 15JFAjfa.maff.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 16DIPdip.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 17NPAnpa.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 18NIKKEInikkei.comVisit source
- Reference 19HURIGHTShurights.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 20SOUMUsoumu.go.jpVisit source