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Population in France compared to Japan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of France was 68,720,337 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current France's population is 68,871,753 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 1.78 times bigger than France's.
  • France is ranked the 23rd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 2.31% of the world: 0.83% for France vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, France has had an average growth rate of +0.32% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of France has increased from 63.6M people to 68.9M (8.25% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

France vs Japan: population by year and forecast

France
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
France Japan
2100 70,675,442 76,995,942
2099 70,692,029 77,380,486
2098 70,701,942 77,759,557
2097 70,707,028 78,135,569
2096 70,713,643 78,515,892
2095 70,707,277 78,892,606
2094 70,691,394 79,267,768
2093 70,665,663 79,645,584
2092 70,643,058 80,025,578
2091 70,615,655 80,401,222
2090 70,582,877 80,778,500
2089 70,549,228 81,158,413
2088 70,510,136 81,539,639
2087 70,470,494 81,926,401
2086 70,427,922 82,322,612
2085 70,390,427 82,727,738
2084 70,348,036 83,141,354
2083 70,296,271 83,562,394
2082 70,255,426 83,998,809
2081 70,210,373 84,447,888
2080 70,169,003 84,918,455
2079 70,127,568 85,406,042
2078 70,087,269 85,916,840
2077 70,045,257 86,453,316
2076 70,001,871 87,012,155
2075 69,959,255 87,597,053
2074 69,924,120 88,209,803
2073 69,892,712 88,854,316
2072 69,866,697 89,519,055
2071 69,838,818 90,204,314
2070 69,826,471 90,919,143
2069 69,816,539 91,645,589
2068 69,818,570 92,388,299
2067 69,826,386 93,133,993
2066 69,835,591 93,889,902
2065 69,856,319 94,654,259
2064 69,880,666 95,412,429
2063 69,910,009 96,169,244
2062 69,948,667 96,924,236
2061 69,988,307 97,675,525
2060 70,030,670 98,422,553
2059 70,076,337 99,166,038
2058 70,119,195 99,890,950
2057 70,164,701 100,607,740
2056 70,208,938 101,318,164
2055 70,258,544 102,012,184
2054 70,298,466 102,706,063
2053 70,332,664 103,381,833
2052 70,357,980 104,059,800
2051 70,383,190 104,729,745
2050 70,398,057 105,400,477
2049 70,407,335 106,076,354
2048 70,406,135 106,754,699
2047 70,394,515 107,442,881
2046 70,376,409 108,139,155
2045 70,345,569 108,844,934
2044 70,306,509 109,553,441
2043 70,260,348 110,269,851
2042 70,199,353 110,992,599
2041 70,133,877 111,729,216
2040 70,067,958 112,463,507
2039 69,998,706 113,200,859
2038 69,920,456 113,940,856
2037 69,831,930 114,687,611
2036 69,743,406 115,436,359
2035 69,651,629 116,187,949
2034 69,558,099 116,936,734
2033 69,468,319 117,678,572
2032 69,377,856 118,419,247
2031 69,288,525 119,153,646
2030 69,197,981 119,882,512
2029 69,104,114 120,600,781
2028 69,012,886 121,314,239
2027 68,917,613 122,015,984
2026 68,823,318 122,704,252
2025 68,720,337 123,366,734
2024 68,551,653 123,975,371
2023 68,372,286 124,516,650
2022 68,184,457 125,124,989
2021 67,842,811 125,681,593
2020 67,601,110 126,261,000
2019 67,382,061 126,633,000
2018 67,158,348 126,811,000
2017 66,918,020 126,972,000
2016 66,724,104 127,076,000
2015 66,548,272 127,141,000
2014 66,312,067 127,276,000
2013 65,997,932 127,445,000
2012 65,657,659 127,629,000
2011 65,340,830 127,833,000
2010 65,026,211 128,070,000
2009 64,706,436 128,047,000
2008 64,375,116 128,063,000
2007 64,016,890 128,001,000
2006 63,622,342 127,854,000
2005 63,180,854 127,773,000
2004 62,707,588 127,761,000
2003 62,249,855 127,718,000
2002 61,812,142 127,445,000
2001 61,364,377 127,149,000
2000 60,918,661 126,843,000
1999 60,501,986 126,631,000
1998 60,190,684 126,400,000
1997 59,968,066 126,057,000
1996 59,754,504 125,757,000
1995 59,541,294 125,472,000
1994 59,324,863 125,178,000
1993 59,103,094 124,829,000
1992 58,846,584 124,425,000
1991 58,554,242 123,964,000
1990 58,261,012 123,478,000
1989 57,943,062 123,069,000
1988 57,598,186 122,578,000
1987 57,266,167 122,069,000
1986 56,956,002 121,482,000
1985 56,665,619 120,837,000
1984 56,383,085 120,083,000
1983 56,108,330 119,307,000
1982 55,806,789 118,480,000
1981 55,603,353 117,661,000
1980 55,274,184 116,807,000
1979 54,979,851 115,890,000
1978 54,734,030 114,913,000
1977 54,486,467 113,872,000
1976 54,232,383 112,775,000
1975 54,002,853 111,573,000
1974 53,746,571 110,162,000
1973 53,392,161 108,707,000
1972 52,962,356 107,188,000
1971 52,499,553 105,697,000
1970 52,007,169 103,403,000
1969 51,536,014 102,219,000
1968 51,112,980 101,011,000
1967 50,722,791 99,879,000
1966 50,311,637 98,851,000
1965 49,877,725 97,952,000
1964 49,401,492 96,903,000
1963 48,877,567 95,900,000
1962 48,389,516 94,933,000
1961 47,905,982 94,055,000
1960 47,412,964 93,216,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/france/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of France increased by 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, France gained 2,147,649 people (a 3.22% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

France was ranked 20th most populous country in 2006 and is 23rd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) France's population will grow by 2.22% to 70,398,057 people with a rank change from 23rd to 30th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

France is projected to reach its peak in 2096 at 70.7M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

France
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
France Japan
2100 -0.02% -0.5%
2099 -0.01% -0.49%
2098 -0.007% -0.48%
2097 -0.009% -0.48%
2096 0.009% -0.48%
2095 0.02% -0.47%
2094 0.04% -0.47%
2093 0.03% -0.47%
2092 0.04% -0.47%
2091 0.05% -0.47%
2090 0.05% -0.47%
2089 0.06% -0.47%
2088 0.06% -0.47%
2087 0.06% -0.48%
2086 0.05% -0.49%
2085 0.06% -0.5%
2084 0.07% -0.5%
2083 0.06% -0.52%
2082 0.06% -0.53%
2081 0.06% -0.55%
2080 0.06% -0.57%
2079 0.06% -0.59%
2078 0.06% -0.62%
2077 0.06% -0.64%
2076 0.06% -0.67%
2075 0.05% -0.69%
2074 0.04% -0.73%
2073 0.04% -0.74%
2072 0.04% -0.76%
2071 0.02% -0.79%
2070 0.01% -0.79%
2069 -0.003% -0.8%
2068 -0.01% -0.8%
2067 -0.01% -0.81%
2066 -0.03% -0.81%
2065 -0.03% -0.79%
2064 -0.04% -0.79%
2063 -0.06% -0.78%
2062 -0.06% -0.77%
2061 -0.06% -0.76%
2060 -0.07% -0.75%
2059 -0.06% -0.73%
2058 -0.06% -0.71%
2057 -0.06% -0.7%
2056 -0.07% -0.68%
2055 -0.06% -0.68%
2054 -0.05% -0.65%
2053 -0.04% -0.65%
2052 -0.04% -0.64%
2051 -0.02% -0.64%
2050 -0.01% -0.64%
2049 0.002% -0.64%
2048 0.02% -0.64%
2047 0.03% -0.64%
2046 0.04% -0.65%
2045 0.06% -0.65%
2044 0.07% -0.65%
2043 0.09% -0.65%
2042 0.09% -0.66%
2041 0.09% -0.65%
2040 0.1% -0.65%
2039 0.11% -0.65%
2038 0.13% -0.65%
2037 0.13% -0.65%
2036 0.13% -0.65%
2035 0.13% -0.64%
2034 0.13% -0.63%
2033 0.13% -0.63%
2032 0.13% -0.62%
2031 0.13% -0.61%
2030 0.14% -0.6%
2029 0.13% -0.59%
2028 0.14% -0.58%
2027 0.14% -0.56%
2026 0.15% -0.54%
2025 0.25% -0.49%
2024 0.26% -0.43%
2023 0.28% -0.49%
2022 0.5% -0.44%
2021 0.36% -0.46%
2020 0.33% -0.29%
2019 0.33% -0.14%
2018 0.36% -0.13%
2017 0.29% -0.08%
2016 0.26% -0.05%
2015 0.36% -0.11%
2014 0.48% -0.13%
2013 0.52% -0.14%
2012 0.48% -0.16%
2011 0.48% -0.19%
2010 0.49% 0.02%
2009 0.51% -0.01%
2008 0.56% 0.05%
2007 0.62% 0.11%
2006 0.7% 0.06%
2005 0.75% 0.009%
2004 0.74% 0.03%
2003 0.71% 0.21%
2002 0.73% 0.23%
2001 0.73% 0.24%
2000 0.69% 0.17%
1999 0.52% 0.18%
1998 0.37% 0.27%
1997 0.36% 0.24%
1996 0.36% 0.23%
1995 0.36% 0.23%
1994 0.38% 0.28%
1993 0.44% 0.32%
1992 0.5% 0.37%
1991 0.5% 0.39%
1990 0.55% 0.33%
1989 0.6% 0.4%
1988 0.58% 0.42%
1987 0.54% 0.48%
1986 0.51% 0.53%
1985 0.5% 0.63%
1984 0.49% 0.65%
1983 0.54% 0.7%
1982 0.37% 0.7%
1981 0.6% 0.73%
1980 0.54% 0.79%
1979 0.45% 0.85%
1978 0.45% 0.91%
1977 0.47% 0.97%
1976 0.43% 1.08%
1975 0.48% 1.28%
1974 0.66% 1.34%
1973 0.81% 1.42%
1972 0.88% 1.41%
1971 0.95% 2.22%
1970 0.91% 1.16%
1969 0.83% 1.2%
1968 0.77% 1.13%
1967 0.82% 1.04%
1966 0.87% 0.92%
1965 0.96% 1.08%
1964 1.07% 1.05%
1963 1.01% 1.02%
1962 1.01% 0.93%
1961 1.04% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/france/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of France grew by 0.25%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

France Japan
Current population
68871753
122704252
Population rank 23/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.83% 1.48%
One net population change
3.12 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
47.4 seconds
44.6 seconds
One death every
48.9 seconds
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +462 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +168,684 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +0.25% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 149/197 183/197
One migration net change every
5.75 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +91,737 +140,579
Net migration rank 18/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 9,186,757 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 5/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.8% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 49/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

France
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
France Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 91,737 - 140,579
2024 20,566 90,527 -942,213 153,357
2023 34,186 91,862 -871,617 175,003
2022 54,547 179,377 -825,825 175,003
2021 74,627 131,465 -640,976 -34,996
2020 67,602 145,593 -542,923 42,001
2019 141,503 71,972 -531,858 318,190
2018 147,749 132,925 -456,520 320,601
2017 160,604 102,984 -406,310 322,564
2016 193,500 15,548 -343,106 314,732
2015 206,300 -345 -292,424 168,896
2014 265,248 52,342 -267,279 58,109
2013 244,192 116,297 -242,146 66,449
2012 256,065 103,287 -229,733 67,904
2011 280,966 70,178 -204,533 97,720
2010 286,116 52,644 -128,070 131,860
2009 278,238 58,032 -76,828 125,450
2008 283,250 79,528 -51,225 142,605
2007 288,076 91,973 -25,600 138,024
2006 305,387 132,512 12,785 130,065
2005 271,677 191,417 -25,554 113,017
2004 282,185 200,629 76,656 69,014
2003 230,325 195,616 114,946 74,875
2002 253,430 191,373 178,423 60,864
2001 263,867 179,476 203,438 59,563
2000 268,042 171,637 228,317 23,468
1999 229,907 169,448 202,610 56,901
1998 222,705 20,216 265,440 45,912
1997 215,885 -15,255 277,325 43,366
1996 221,092 -21,463 314,392 25,030
1995 220,303 -17,128 276,039 87,714
1994 201,704 -4,232 363,017 154,214
1993 224,592 16,892 312,073 168,836
1992 229,502 61,964 360,833 170,878
1991 234,216 35,201 396,685 161,331
1990 238,870 43,323 407,478 124,582
1989 243,361 82,052 467,662 31,202
1988 247,672 69,935 527,085 51,154
1987 251,971 59,890 598,138 28,001
1986 250,606 51,642 631,706 27,987
1985 249,328 66,149 676,687 -141,323
1984 248,086 76,175 756,523 -273,686
1983 235,655 88,166 775,495 -269,755
1982 234,389 81,084 805,664 -288,550
1981 222,414 69,365 811,861 -278,525
1980 210,042 54,718 864,372 -92,314
1979 208,923 34,295 950,298 -57,692
1978 213,462 18,692 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 217,946 44,918 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 227,776 59,515 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 248,413 16,139 1,204,989 107
1974 268,733 26,203 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 282,979 103,910 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 296,589 101,223 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 309,747 144,321 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 322,444 182,941 1,230,496 33,731
1969 329,831 160,403 1,195,962 49,447
1968 337,346 113,115 1,191,930 43,593
1967 339,843 63,018 1,258,475 29,632
1966 352,181 96,097 682,072 68,934
1965 354,132 82,879 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 360,631 163,039 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 361,694 190,925 987,770 -100,742
1962 358,082 141,634 901,864 -57,075
1961 354,504 128,618 893,522 -58,882
1960 346,115 143,032 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/france/japan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 53.4% of the population change in France is from natural causes (a gain of 1,101,184 people) and 46.6% is from migration (a gain of 961,908 people). In Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 9,186,757 residents or 13.8% of the population were not native-born in France, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

France
City Population
Paris 2.1M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/france/japan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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