Japan’s population falls below 120 million as foreign resident numbers rise

Japan’s population is now below 120 million for the first time in decades, according to new demographic figures. The number of Japanese residents living in Japan declines to under 120 million, continuing a long-term downward trend. One report notes that the Japanese resident population falls by 0.76%. At the same time, the figures show growth in the number of foreign residents in Japan, which increases by 9.62% over the period covered by the data. When foreign residents are included, Japan’s total population is reported at 123.8 million. Taken together, the data indicate that the shrinking number of Japanese residents is partly offset by rising foreign resident counts. The reports are based on the same overall set of official population statistics and present the change both in the native Japanese population and in the total population that includes foreign residents.