TOKYO: Japan’s population of Japanese nationals has dropped below 120 million for the first time in more than four decades, underscoring the country’s worsening demographic challenges driven by persistently low birth rates and a rapidly ageing society.
According to figures released on Wednesday by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of Japanese citizens residing in the country stood at 119.74 million as of January 1, 2026, marking a 0.76 per cent decline compared with the previous year.
The latest survey, which has tracked population trends since 1968, shows that the number of Japanese residents has now fallen for the 17th consecutive year since reaching its peak in 2009. It is also the first time in 42 years that the population has slipped below the 120-million mark.
Despite the continued decline in the Japanese population, the number of foreign residents reached its highest level since records began in 2013. Including foreign nationals, Japan’s total population currently stands at 123.8 million.
Japan remains one of the world’s oldest societies, with a median age of 49.9 years, second only to Monaco, according to the World Bank. The country’s demographic imbalance is placing increasing pressure on its economy, labour market and public finances.
Fertility rate
Earlier official data released in June showed that Japan’s total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime—fell to a new record low of 1.14 in 2025, down slightly from the previous year. This marked the tenth consecutive annual decline.
The number of babies born in Japan also fell by nearly 15,000, dropping to just over 670,000, the lowest level recorded since national statistics began in 1899.
The shrinking and ageing population has contributed to growing labour shortages, rising social security costs and a narrowing tax base, prompting continued government efforts to encourage marriage and family formation.
One such initiative has shown early signs of success. Tokyo’s AI-powered matchmaking application, TOKYO Enmusubi, launched in September 2024, has helped 265 couples marry, according to figures released this month.
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The service was introduced after a government survey found that around 70 per cent of people interested in marriage were not actively seeking partners. Applicants are required to verify that they are legally single and complete an online interview before joining.
As of June 30, 2026, the platform had 16,000 registered users, selected from approximately 36,000 applicants, and had facilitated 760 couples entering serious relationships.
One user, identified only by the pseudonym “Turtle”, said she turned to the service as a final opportunity before her 40th birthday. After several unsuccessful blind dates, she met her future husband through the app, began a relationship within weeks and accepted his marriage proposal by the end of the year.
The figures highlight the scale of Japan’s demographic challenge, even as authorities continue to explore innovative ways to reverse the country’s long-term population decline.
