Gitnux/Report 2026

Japan Statistics

Japan sits at 124,352,000 people and is still shrinking, with a median age of 49.5 and nearly 30% aged 65 or older, while Tokyo draws 28.4% of the country into a single megaregion. See how longevity, low fertility at 1.26 children per woman, and a GDP per capita of 33,834 USD coexist with exports at 100.2 trillion JPY and a declining net migration rate of -0.22 per 1,000.
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May 13, 2026Updated
Japan Statistics
Lukas BauerWritten by Lukas Bauer·Edited by Elena Vasquez·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura
Published ·Updated
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Japan holds 124,352,000 people as of October 1, 2023, but with an annual population growth rate of -0.53% and a median age of 49.5 years, the country is aging faster than many realize. At the same time, life runs at a high pace in the megacity core, where 28.4% of the population lives in Tokyo prefecture and surrounding areas. This mix of demographic slowdown, economic weight, and infrastructure scale is exactly what makes Japan’s latest statistics so revealing.

Key Takeaways

  • Japan's total population as of October 1, 2023, stands at 124,352,000 people, reflecting a 0.81% decline from the previous year.
  • The median age in Japan is 49.5 years as of 2023, one of the highest in the world.
  • Japan's population density is 333 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
  • Japan's GDP nominal in 2023 was 4.21 trillion USD, making it the world's 4th largest economy.
  • GDP per capita in Japan was 33,834 USD in 2023.
  • GDP growth rate was 1.9% in 2023.
  • Japan's land area is 377,975 square kilometers.
  • Coastline length is 29,751 kilometers.
  • Highest point is Mount Fuji at 3,776 meters.
  • Life expectancy at birth overall is 84.6 years as of 2023.
  • Infant mortality rate is 1.8 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
  • Physicians density: 2.59 per 1,000 people as of 2021.
  • R&D expenditure as % of GDP: 3.3% in 2022.
  • Number of patents granted: 289,700 resident filings in 2022.
  • Internet users: 94.7% of population as of 2023.

Japan is shrinking and aging fast, with near record life expectancy and a falling population growth rate.

Related reading

01 · Category

Demographics30 stats

01
Japan's total population as of October 1, 2023, stands at 124,352,000 people, reflecting a 0.81% decline from the previous year.
02
The median age in Japan is 49.5 years as of 2023, one of the highest in the world.
03
Japan's population density is 333 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
04
As of 2022, 29.9% of Japan's population is aged 65 or older.
05
Japan's total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.26 children per woman.
06
Urban population in Japan accounts for 91.7% of the total population in 2023.
07
Net migration rate for Japan in 2023 is -0.22 migrant(s) per 1,000 population.
08
Life expectancy at birth for males in Japan is 81.5 years as of 2023.
09
Life expectancy at birth for females in Japan is 87.6 years as of 2023.
10
Japan's sex ratio at birth is 1.06 males per female as of 2023.
11
The age dependency ratio in Japan is 68.9% as of 2023.
12
Japan's population growth rate is -0.53% annually as of 2023.
13
Number of births in Japan in 2022 was 770,747.
14
Number of deaths in Japan in 2022 was 1,590,503.
15
Infant mortality rate is 1.9 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2023.
16
28.4% of Japan's population lives in Tokyo prefecture and surrounding areas as of 2023.
17
Ethnic Japanese make up 97.9% of the population as of 2023.
18
Foreign residents in Japan number 2,887,116 as of 2023.
19
The youth population (0-14 years) is 11.6% as of 2023.
20
Working-age population (15-64) is 59.4% as of 2023.
21
Elderly population (65+) is 29.1% as of 2023.
22
Average household size in Japan is 2.25 persons as of 2022.
23
Single-person households account for 38.2% as of 2022.
24
Marriage rate in 2022 was 4.1 per 1,000 population.
25
Divorce rate in 2022 was 1.57 per 1,000 population.
26
Population of Tokyo metropolis is 14,056,196 as of 2023.
27
Osaka prefecture population is 8,778,000 as of 2023.
28
Nagoya city population is 2,327,557 as of 2023.
29
Japan's overseas Japanese population is about 1.3 million as of 2023.
30
Hiroshima prefecture population is 2,727,000 as of 2023.
Interpretation

Demographics Interpretation

Japan stands as a nation of serene, superannuated city-dwellers, where the streets are densely packed yet the cradles are nearly empty, creating a society that is living impressively long while gently fading away.

02 · Category

Economy29 stats

01
Japan's GDP nominal in 2023 was 4.21 trillion USD, making it the world's 4th largest economy.
02
GDP per capita in Japan was 33,834 USD in 2023.
03
GDP growth rate was 1.9% in 2023.
04
Unemployment rate in Japan was 2.6% in 2023.
05
Public debt to GDP ratio is 255% as of 2023.
06
Inflation rate (CPI) was 3.2% in 2023.
07
Exports of goods and services were 18.9% of GDP in 2022.
08
Imports of goods and services were 19.4% of GDP in 2022.
09
Current account balance was 3.5% of GDP in 2023.
10
Corporate tax rate in Japan is 30.62% as of 2023.
11
Labor force participation rate is 62.4% as of 2023.
12
Average annual wages are 4,550,000 JPY (about 30,000 USD) as of 2022.
13
Manufacturing sector contributes 20.8% to GDP in 2022.
14
Services sector contributes 69.9% to GDP in 2022.
15
Agriculture sector contributes 1.1% to GDP in 2022.
16
Stock market capitalization is 6.8 trillion USD as of 2023.
17
Foreign direct investment inflow was 38.7 billion USD in 2022.
18
Tourism revenue was 4.8 trillion JPY in 2023.
19
Automobile exports value was 17.1 trillion JPY in 2023.
20
Semiconductor exports were 2.5 trillion JPY in 2023.
21
Yen exchange rate averaged 140.5 per USD in 2023.
22
Household saving rate is 5.1% as of 2023.
23
Bank lending rate is 0.5% as of 2023.
24
Government budget balance is -5.2% of GDP in 2023.
25
Energy import dependency is 90.9% as of 2022.
26
Patent applications filed: 289,700 in 2022.
27
Nikkei 225 average closing index was 33,464 in 2023.
28
Total exports value: 100.2 trillion JPY in FY2023.
29
Total imports value: 118.5 trillion JPY in FY2023.
Interpretation

Economy Interpretation

Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, operates like a masterful but deeply indebted innovator, where everyone has a job, manufacturing still hums, and corporate taxes fund a government that spends far more than it earns, all while relying on nearly everyone else for its energy.

03 · Category

Geography and Environment30 stats

01
Japan's land area is 377,975 square kilometers.
02
Coastline length is 29,751 kilometers.
03
Highest point is Mount Fuji at 3,776 meters.
04
Lowest point is Hachiro-gata -4 meters.
05
Arable land is 11.6% of total land area as of 2021.
06
Forest area covers 68.5% of land as of 2020.
07
Annual precipitation average is 1,668 mm.
08
Average annual temperature is 11.0°C nationwide.
09
Number of active volcanoes: 111.
10
Earthquake frequency: over 1,500 perceptible annually.
11
Typhoons affecting Japan: average 3 per year.
12
Renewable energy share in electricity: 22.7% in 2022.
13
CO2 emissions: 1,056 million metric tons in 2022.
14
Protected areas cover 29.9% of land territory as of 2022.
15
Freshwater withdrawal: 79 billion cubic meters per year.
16
Major rivers: Shinano River 367 km long.
17
Largest lake: Lake Biwa 670 km².
18
Island count: over 6,800 islands.
19
Sea area under national jurisdiction: 4.47 million km².
20
Air pollution PM2.5 concentration: 10.5 µg/m³ in 2022.
21
Forest carbon stock: 2.6 billion metric tons in 2020.
22
Endangered species: 2,391 as of 2023.
23
Annual deforestation rate: -0.02% from 2015-2020.
24
Tsunami-prone coastline: 40% of total.
25
Geothermal power potential: 23,000 MW.
26
Wind power installed capacity: 5.1 GW as of 2023.
27
Solar PV installed capacity: 98 GW as of 2023.
28
Hokkaido island area: 83,424 km².
29
Honshu island area: 227,960 km².
30
Kyushu island area: 36,782 km².
Interpretation

Geography and Environment Interpretation

Japan is a nation of dramatic extremes and resilient contrasts, where ancient forests and volatile geology coexist with a densely packed society that is precariously perched on a breathtakingly beautiful, yet alarmingly active, slice of the planet.

More related reading

04 · Category

Health and Education29 stats

01
Life expectancy at birth overall is 84.6 years as of 2023.
02
Infant mortality rate is 1.8 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
03
Physicians density: 2.59 per 1,000 people as of 2021.
04
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 13.1 as of 2021.
05
Health expenditure as % of GDP: 11.5% in 2022.
06
Obesity rate (BMI>30) among adults: 4.3% as of 2022.
07
Suicide rate: 14.1 per 100,000 in 2022.
08
Cancer incidence rate: 287.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
09
COVID-19 vaccination rate: 80.4% fully vaccinated as of 2023.
10
Tobacco use among adults: 16.7% as of 2022.
11
PISA mathematics score average: 536 in 2022.
12
PISA reading score average: 516 in 2022.
13
PISA science score average: 547 in 2022.
14
Tertiary education attainment (25-34 years): 63.4% as of 2022.
15
Education expenditure as % of GDP: 3.5% in 2021.
16
Student-teacher ratio primary: 16.9 as of 2021.
17
Literacy rate adult: 99% as of 2023.
18
Government expenditure on education: 3.6% of GDP in 2022.
19
Mental health disorders prevalence: 5.3% as of 2022.
20
Diabetes prevalence among adults: 7.9% in 2022.
21
Vaccination coverage DTP3: 97% in 2022.
22
Average years of schooling: 12.8 years as of 2023.
23
School enrollment secondary (% gross): 98.8% in 2021.
24
Mean years of schooling: 12.7 years for adults 25+.
25
HIV prevalence: <0.1% as of 2022.
26
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 per 100,000 live births.
27
Under-5 mortality rate: 2.1 per 1,000 live births.
28
Access to improved sanitation: 100% as of 2022.
29
Access to improved drinking water: 100% as of 2022.
Interpretation

Health and Education Interpretation

Japan's exceptional longevity, low infant mortality, and stellar education scores paint a picture of a society meticulously engineered for a long and learned life, yet its comparatively low health spending, high suicide rate, and sparse physicians hint at a system achieving remarkable efficiency but perhaps straining under its own quiet pressures.

05 · Category

Technology and Infrastructure26 stats

01
R&D expenditure as % of GDP: 3.3% in 2022.
02
Number of patents granted: 289,700 resident filings in 2022.
03
Internet users: 94.7% of population as of 2023.
04
Mobile cellular subscriptions: 153 per 100 people in 2023.
05
Broadband subscriptions: 33.5 per 100 people in 2023.
06
Shinkansen high-speed rail network: 3,041 km as of 2023.
07
Total railway track length: 27,311 km in 2022.
08
Paved road length: 1,218,772 km as of 2022.
09
Vehicle ownership: 595 per 1,000 people in 2022.
10
Air transport passengers carried: 179 million in 2023.
11
Robot density in manufacturing: 399 per 10,000 employees in 2022.
12
5G base stations: over 70,000 as of 2023.
13
Semiconductor production value: 15.6 trillion JPY in 2023.
14
EV sales share: 2.2% in 2023.
15
Nuclear power plants operational: 10 reactors as of 2023.
16
Cultural heritage sites UNESCO: 25 as of 2023.
17
Annual inbound tourists: 25 million in 2023.
18
Traditional crafts certified: 241 as of 2023.
19
Anime industry market size: 2.9 trillion JPY in 2023.
20
Sumo wrestlers professional: about 700 active as of 2023.
21
Tea production: 83,000 tons green tea in 2022.
22
Sake production: 360,000 kiloliters in 2022.
23
Nobel laureates from Japan: 29 as of 2023.
24
Olympic medals all-time: 497 as of 2023.
25
Haneda Airport passengers: 85 million in 2023.
26
Narita Airport passengers: 38 million in 2023.
Interpretation

Technology and Infrastructure Interpretation

Japan, a nation that diligently files nearly 300,000 patents and invests heavily in robots, 5G, and semiconductors, still masterfully reserves bandwidth in its national soul for perfecting a cup of tea, a barrel of sake, and a centuries-old throw in the sumo ring.
Reference

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Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Japan Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/japan-statistics
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Lukas Bauer. "Japan Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/japan-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Japan Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/japan-statistics.

Sources & references

63 datasets cited across this report

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