Japan Population Pyramid (2026)
Japan has a population of 122,427,731 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 12th-largest population in the world and 1.47% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 11.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 30.2%, with 95.1 males for every 100 females.
Japan Demographics
Japan has 122.4 million people in 2026, up 14.7% from 106.7 million in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 817,272 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 50.2 — the 2nd-highest of 194 countries.
65+ share 30.2% — the 2nd-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Baby Boomers — 24.3% (29,715,349)
All generations in Japan →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Japan's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Japan has 95.1 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 3,104,085 (2.5% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:59,661,823
- Percentage:48.7%
Female Statistics
- Population:62,765,908
- Percentage:51.3%
- Ratio Format:1:1.052
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Japan indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 745,943 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 810,611 | 6.5 | 1.27 | estimate |
| 2022 | 786,576 | 6.3 | 1.26 | estimate |
| 2023 | 749,884 | 6.0 | 1.21 | estimate |
| 2024 | 750,570 | 6.1 | 1.22 | projection |
| 2025 | 748,163 | 6.1 | 1.23 | projection |
| 2026 | 745,943 | 6.1 | 1.23 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (745,943 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Japan's median age is 50.2 years
Half the population is younger than 50.2 years, half is older — indicating an aging society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 3,847,680 | 3.1% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 4,493,348 | 3.7% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 5,183,648 | 4.2% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 5,643,078 | 4.6% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 6,151,455 | 5.0% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 6,144,998 | 5.0% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 6,004,429 | 4.9% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 6,317,817 | 5.2% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 7,128,607 | 5.8% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 8,129,439 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 9,800,356 | 8.0% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 8,907,296 | 7.3% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 7,706,557 | 6.3% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 7,222,791 | 5.9% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 7,497,897 | 6.1% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 8,810,463 | 7.2% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 6,033,699 | 4.9% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 4,305,494 | 3.5% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 2,268,628 | 1.9% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 704,042 | 0.6% | Senior |
| 100+ | 126,007 | 0.1% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 6.1 births and 12.8 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Japan Total Fertility Rate: 1.23 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.27 | 6.5 | |
| 2022 | 1.26 | 6.3 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.21 | 6.0 | ↓0.05 |
| 2024 | 1.22 | 6.1 | ↑0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.23 | 6.1 | ↑0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.23 | 6.1 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.26
Japan's total fertility rate is 1.23 children per woman in 2026 (very low (lowest-low) fertility), below the replacement level of 2.1. Japan ranks 181 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −66.0% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Japan's population has increased by 41.6%.
The median age has increased from 21.3 in 1950 to 50.2 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Japan's Demographics
Japan has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 11.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 30.2%.
The largest five-year age band is 50–54, at 8.0% of the population, compared with 3.1% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Japan's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Japan's working-age share peaked in 1992 at 70.0% and is 58.8% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Japan is in a period of very low (lowest-low) fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.23 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Japan's median age changed by +4.0 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 122,427,731 |
| Male Population | 59,661,823(48.7%) |
| Female Population | 62,765,908(51.3%) |
| Median Age | 50.2 years |
| Sex Ratio | 95.1 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 13,524,676(11.0%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 71,934,034(58.8%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 36,969,021(30.2%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 70.2 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 18.8 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 51.4 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Japan
How long the average person in Japan is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Japan is projected to shrink to 105.1 million people by 2050 (−14.1% from 2026).
The median age rises from 50.2 in 2026 to 52.8 by 2050.
Major Events That Shaped Japan's Demographics
Understanding the historical events and policy decisions that created Japan's current population structure.
Post-War Baby Boom
1947-1949Returning soldiers and economic recovery sparked a significant fertility surge.
Demographic Impact
People born in 1947–1949 are aged 77–79 in 2026.
Economic Miracle and Fertility Decline
1950s-1970sRapid economic growth and urbanization transformed family patterns.
Demographic Impact
Total fertility fell from 3.62 in 1950 to 2.04 by 1957.
Lost Decades and Ultra-Low Fertility
1990s-presentEconomic stagnation coincided with marriage and birth postponement.
Demographic Impact
Total fertility fell to 1.25 by 2005, and after peaking near 128.2 million around 2009 the population began a sustained decline. Japan's median age is 50.2 in 2026, the 2nd-highest of the 194 ranked countries.
Japan's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 10.9%, growing from 106.7 million in 1970 to 118.4 million by 1980
The median age increased by 3.4 years, indicating population aging during this period
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 2.0 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 106.7M to 118.4M
- • Growth rate of 10.9% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 28.3 to 31.7 years (+3.4y)
- • 65+ share changed by +2.0 points; under-15 share by +0.2 points
How Does Japan Compare to Its Neighbors?
Japan has an older population than South Korea, China, Russia. Japan has a smaller population than China, Russia.
Japan
South Korea
China
Russia
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan (Current) | 122,427,731 | 50.2 | 11.0% | 30.2% | constrictive |
| South Korea | 51,600,388 | 46.2 | 9.8% | 21.4% | constrictive |
| China | 1,412,914,088 | 40.6 | 14.8% | 15.1% | constrictive |
| Russia | 143,394,458 | 40.7 | 16.7% | 18.4% | constrictive |
Frequently Asked Questions About Japan
How does Japan rank globally by population?
Japan ranks 12th in the world by population with 122.4 million people as of 2026, representing 1.47% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Japan's age structure reveal about its development?
Japan's age structure — 11.0% under 15, 58.8% working-age (15–64) and 30.2% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 50.2 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Japan?
Japan has 70.2 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Japan experiencing a demographic dividend?
Japan has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Japan's working-age share peaked in 1992 at 70.0% and is 58.8% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Japan's population?
Japan has more females than males, with 95.1 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Japan Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/japan
View UN World Population Prospects Data →