Japan’s population of nationals has continued its precipitous decline, falling by a record amount of over 908,000 people in 2024, according to recent government data. This marks the 16th consecutive year of population shrinkage and represents the largest annual drop since records began in 1968. The new figures have amplified concerns about the nation’s demographic crisis, which is primarily driven by a widening gap between births and deaths.
Official data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications shows that in 2024, deaths in Japan totaled nearly 1.6 million, a new record high, while births plummeted to an all-time low of just under 688,000—the lowest figure since records started in 1899. This natural population decrease, with deaths far outpacing births, is the central factor behind the record-breaking population fall.
The demographic shift is leading to a rapidly aging society. Japanese nationals aged 65 and older now account for nearly 30% of the population, placing Japan as the country with the second-oldest population in the world, after Monaco. This trend puts immense strain on the nation’s social security systems, including healthcare and pensions, with a shrinking working-age population left to bear the financial burden. The working-age population (15-64 years) now makes up approximately 59% of the total population, a figure far below the global average.
While the number of Japanese nationals is in decline, the population of foreign residents is on the rise. In 2024, the foreign resident population increased by over 354,000, reaching a record high of 3.67 million. Foreign nationals, of whom more than 85% are of working age, are increasingly filling labor shortages in sectors such as manufacturing and hospitality. The government is also easing immigration policies in an effort to address the demographic imbalance. However, this has also sparked a political backlash, with some opposition parties gaining traction by advocating for stricter immigration controls.
The effects of this demographic crisis are particularly acute in rural areas. Many rural prefectures are experiencing the steepest population decreases as younger generations migrate to urban centers like Tokyo in search of better job opportunities and amenities. The depopulation of these regions has led to a surge in abandoned homes, with the number of vacant houses now approaching four million. Tokyo, in contrast, was the only prefecture to see an increase in its native population, driven by this internal migration.