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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,405,134 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,181,414 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 12 times bigger than Greece's.
  • Greece is ranked the 96th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.6% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.2M (7.61% decline), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Greece vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece Japan
2100 6,463,085 76,978,998
2099 6,505,287 77,363,458
2098 6,547,164 77,742,445
2097 6,589,081 78,118,375
2096 6,630,487 78,498,614
2095 6,671,006 78,875,245
2094 6,710,734 79,250,325
2093 6,749,510 79,628,057
2092 6,787,596 80,007,967
2091 6,824,775 80,383,529
2090 6,862,164 80,760,724
2089 6,900,089 81,140,553
2088 6,937,116 81,521,696
2087 6,973,450 81,908,373
2086 7,010,676 82,304,497
2085 7,048,751 82,709,534
2084 7,086,818 83,123,058
2083 7,124,743 83,544,006
2082 7,164,627 83,980,325
2081 7,205,487 84,429,305
2080 7,248,512 84,899,768
2079 7,292,836 85,387,247
2078 7,338,859 85,897,934
2077 7,387,671 86,434,291
2076 7,437,562 86,993,007
2075 7,489,139 87,577,777
2074 7,543,259 88,190,392
2073 7,600,155 88,834,763
2072 7,659,253 89,499,356
2071 7,719,672 90,184,464
2070 7,782,317 90,899,136
2069 7,847,153 91,625,421
2068 7,913,682 92,367,969
2067 7,980,659 93,113,499
2066 8,047,692 93,869,240
2065 8,114,348 94,633,430
2064 8,181,923 95,391,433
2063 8,250,274 96,148,081
2062 8,318,463 96,902,907
2061 8,386,919 97,654,031
2060 8,454,179 98,400,894
2059 8,522,250 99,144,216
2058 8,589,200 99,868,968
2057 8,655,428 100,585,601
2056 8,720,012 101,295,868
2055 8,783,558 101,989,736
2054 8,844,935 102,683,462
2053 8,903,834 103,359,083
2052 8,961,755 104,036,901
2051 9,018,494 104,706,698
2050 9,072,676 105,377,283
2049 9,126,801 106,053,011
2048 9,177,973 106,731,207
2047 9,228,605 107,419,237
2046 9,275,381 108,115,358
2045 9,321,349 108,820,982
2044 9,367,130 109,529,333
2043 9,411,608 110,245,586
2042 9,454,837 110,968,174
2041 9,499,098 111,704,629
2040 9,543,726 112,438,759
2039 9,588,298 113,175,948
2038 9,633,708 113,915,783
2037 9,679,362 114,662,374
2036 9,724,905 115,410,956
2035 9,771,397 116,162,381
2034 9,817,355 116,911,001
2033 9,863,589 117,652,676
2032 9,911,215 118,393,188
2031 9,956,924 119,127,425
2030 10,002,298 119,856,131
2029 10,047,641 120,574,242
2028 10,092,845 121,287,543
2027 10,137,354 121,989,133
2026 10,181,414 122,677,250
2025 10,223,023 123,339,586
2024 10,405,134 123,975,371
2023 10,407,351 124,516,650
2022 10,436,882 125,124,989
2021 10,569,207 125,681,593
2020 10,698,599 126,261,000
2019 10,721,582 126,633,000
2018 10,732,882 126,811,000
2017 10,754,679 126,972,000
2016 10,775,971 127,076,000
2015 10,820,883 127,141,000
2014 10,892,413 127,276,000
2013 10,965,211 127,445,000
2012 11,045,011 127,629,000
2011 11,104,899 127,833,000
2010 11,121,341 128,070,000
2009 11,107,017 128,047,000
2008 11,077,841 128,063,000
2007 11,048,473 128,001,000
2006 11,020,362 127,854,000
2005 10,987,314 127,773,000
2004 10,955,141 127,761,000
2003 10,928,070 127,718,000
2002 10,902,022 127,445,000
2001 10,862,132 127,149,000
2000 10,805,808 126,843,000
1999 10,761,698 126,631,000
1998 10,720,509 126,400,000
1997 10,661,259 126,057,000
1996 10,608,800 125,757,000
1995 10,562,153 125,472,000
1994 10,512,922 125,178,000
1993 10,460,415 124,829,000
1992 10,399,061 124,425,000
1991 10,319,927 123,964,000
1990 10,196,792 123,478,000
1989 10,089,498 123,069,000
1988 10,036,983 122,578,000
1987 10,000,595 122,069,000
1986 9,967,213 121,482,000
1985 9,934,300 120,837,000
1984 9,895,801 120,083,000
1983 9,846,627 119,307,000
1982 9,789,513 118,480,000
1981 9,729,350 117,661,000
1980 9,642,505 116,807,000
1979 9,548,258 115,890,000
1978 9,429,959 114,913,000
1977 9,308,479 113,872,000
1976 9,188,150 112,775,000
1975 9,046,541 111,573,000
1974 8,962,022 110,162,000
1973 8,929,086 108,707,000
1972 8,888,628 107,188,000
1971 8,831,036 105,697,000
1970 8,792,806 103,403,000
1969 8,772,764 102,219,000
1968 8,740,765 101,011,000
1967 8,684,088 99,879,000
1966 8,613,651 98,851,000
1965 8,550,333 97,952,000
1964 8,510,429 96,903,000
1963 8,479,625 95,900,000
1962 8,448,233 94,933,000
1961 8,398,050 94,055,000
1960 8,331,725 93,216,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 96th 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) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people with a rank change from 96th to 106th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 26.9% of the population in Greece and 29.1% in Japan.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece Japan
2100 -0.65% -0.5%
2099 -0.64% -0.49%
2098 -0.64% -0.48%
2097 -0.62% -0.48%
2096 -0.61% -0.48%
2095 -0.59% -0.47%
2094 -0.57% -0.47%
2093 -0.56% -0.47%
2092 -0.54% -0.47%
2091 -0.54% -0.47%
2090 -0.55% -0.47%
2089 -0.53% -0.47%
2088 -0.52% -0.47%
2087 -0.53% -0.48%
2086 -0.54% -0.49%
2085 -0.54% -0.5%
2084 -0.53% -0.5%
2083 -0.56% -0.52%
2082 -0.57% -0.53%
2081 -0.59% -0.55%
2080 -0.61% -0.57%
2079 -0.63% -0.59%
2078 -0.66% -0.62%
2077 -0.67% -0.64%
2076 -0.69% -0.67%
2075 -0.72% -0.69%
2074 -0.75% -0.73%
2073 -0.77% -0.74%
2072 -0.78% -0.76%
2071 -0.8% -0.79%
2070 -0.83% -0.79%
2069 -0.84% -0.8%
2068 -0.84% -0.8%
2067 -0.83% -0.81%
2066 -0.82% -0.81%
2065 -0.83% -0.79%
2064 -0.83% -0.79%
2063 -0.82% -0.78%
2062 -0.82% -0.77%
2061 -0.8% -0.76%
2060 -0.8% -0.75%
2059 -0.78% -0.73%
2058 -0.77% -0.71%
2057 -0.74% -0.7%
2056 -0.72% -0.68%
2055 -0.69% -0.68%
2054 -0.66% -0.65%
2053 -0.65% -0.65%
2052 -0.63% -0.64%
2051 -0.6% -0.64%
2050 -0.59% -0.64%
2049 -0.56% -0.64%
2048 -0.55% -0.64%
2047 -0.5% -0.64%
2046 -0.49% -0.65%
2045 -0.49% -0.65%
2044 -0.47% -0.65%
2043 -0.46% -0.65%
2042 -0.47% -0.66%
2041 -0.47% -0.65%
2040 -0.46% -0.65%
2039 -0.47% -0.65%
2038 -0.47% -0.65%
2037 -0.47% -0.65%
2036 -0.48% -0.65%
2035 -0.47% -0.64%
2034 -0.47% -0.63%
2033 -0.48% -0.63%
2032 -0.46% -0.62%
2031 -0.45% -0.61%
2030 -0.45% -0.6%
2029 -0.45% -0.59%
2028 -0.44% -0.58%
2027 -0.43% -0.56%
2026 -0.41% -0.54%
2025 -1.75% -0.51%
2024 -0.02% -0.43%
2023 -0.28% -0.49%
2022 -1.25% -0.44%
2021 -1.21% -0.46%
2020 -0.21% -0.29%
2019 -0.11% -0.14%
2018 -0.2% -0.13%
2017 -0.2% -0.08%
2016 -0.42% -0.05%
2015 -0.66% -0.11%
2014 -0.66% -0.13%
2013 -0.72% -0.14%
2012 -0.54% -0.16%
2011 -0.15% -0.19%
2010 0.13% 0.02%
2009 0.26% -0.01%
2008 0.27% 0.05%
2007 0.26% 0.11%
2006 0.3% 0.06%
2005 0.29% 0.009%
2004 0.25% 0.03%
2003 0.24% 0.21%
2002 0.37% 0.23%
2001 0.52% 0.24%
2000 0.41% 0.17%
1999 0.38% 0.18%
1998 0.56% 0.27%
1997 0.49% 0.24%
1996 0.44% 0.23%
1995 0.47% 0.23%
1994 0.5% 0.28%
1993 0.59% 0.32%
1992 0.77% 0.37%
1991 1.21% 0.39%
1990 1.06% 0.33%
1989 0.52% 0.4%
1988 0.36% 0.42%
1987 0.33% 0.48%
1986 0.33% 0.53%
1985 0.39% 0.63%
1984 0.5% 0.65%
1983 0.58% 0.7%
1982 0.62% 0.7%
1981 0.9% 0.73%
1980 0.99% 0.79%
1979 1.25% 0.85%
1978 1.31% 0.91%
1977 1.31% 0.97%
1976 1.57% 1.08%
1975 0.94% 1.28%
1974 0.37% 1.34%
1973 0.46% 1.42%
1972 0.65% 1.41%
1971 0.43% 2.22%
1970 0.23% 1.16%
1969 0.37% 1.2%
1968 0.65% 1.13%
1967 0.82% 1.04%
1966 0.74% 0.92%
1965 0.47% 1.08%
1964 0.36% 1.05%
1963 0.37% 1.02%
1962 0.6% 0.93%
1961 0.8% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Greece declined by 0.02%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Greece Japan
Current population
10181414
122677250
Population rank 96/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 1.48%
One net population change
3.95 hours
58.3 seconds
One birth every
7.43 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
4.14 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6 -1,483
Annual growth/decline -2,217 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 165/197 185/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +16,636 +140,579
Net migration rank 37/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - 140,579
2024 - -122,772 - 153,357
2023 -56,200 -159,430 -871,617 175,003
2022 -63,665 -53,997 -825,825 175,003
2021 -58,131 -160,277 -640,976 -34,996
2020 -46,004 6,353 -542,923 42,001
2019 -41,814 36,762 -531,858 318,190
2018 -33,272 17,938 -456,520 320,601
2017 -36,566 10,483 -406,310 322,564
2016 -25,862 10,484 -343,106 314,732
2015 -29,216 -43,462 -292,424 168,896
2014 -20,696 -46,678 -267,279 58,109
2013 -17,545 -59,323 -242,146 66,449
2012 -16,568 -65,364 -229,733 67,904
2011 -4,441 -31,786 -204,533 97,720
2010 5,560 2,001 -128,070 131,860
2009 8,886 18,182 -76,828 125,450
2008 11,077 27,081 -51,225 142,605
2007 2,210 25,400 -25,600 138,024
2006 6,612 27,621 12,785 130,065
2005 2,197 33,297 -25,554 113,017
2004 0 29,039 76,656 69,014
2003 -1,093 25,323 114,946 74,875
2002 0 25,692 178,423 60,864
2001 0 60,387 203,438 59,563
2000 -1,081 54,661 228,317 23,468
1999 -2,153 49,930 202,610 56,901
1998 -2,144 47,856 265,440 45,912
1997 2,133 45,671 277,325 43,366
1996 0 43,444 314,392 25,030
1995 1,056 42,674 276,039 87,714
1994 6,307 42,897 363,017 154,214
1993 4,185 39,829 312,073 168,836
1992 6,239 41,000 360,833 170,878
1991 6,192 37,917 396,685 161,331
1990 8,157 26,294 407,478 124,582
1989 9,080 18,862 467,662 31,202
1988 15,055 20,557 527,085 51,154
1987 10,001 19,005 598,138 28,001
1986 20,931 19,064 631,706 27,987
1985 22,849 16,093 676,687 -141,323
1984 37,604 19,767 756,523 -273,686
1983 42,341 18,655 775,495 -269,755
1982 50,906 19,675 805,664 -288,550
1981 54,484 25,061 811,861 -278,525
1980 60,748 47,460 864,372 -92,314
1979 65,882 72,184 950,298 -57,692
1978 64,124 60,775 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 59,574 19,193 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 65,236 89,601 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 61,516 61,265 1,204,989 107
1974 68,111 -22,590 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 59,824 -42,387 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 64,887 -3,589 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 67,116 -12,747 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 71,222 -54,166 1,230,496 33,731
1969 82,464 -118,544 1,195,962 49,447
1968 87,408 -429 1,191,930 43,593
1967 91,183 -55,853 1,258,475 29,632
1966 86,998 21,206 682,072 68,934
1965 83,793 -81,576 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 83,402 -76,678 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 81,404 -77,345 987,770 -100,742
1962 85,327 -74,972 901,864 -57,075
1961 86,500 -61,102 893,522 -58,882
1960 96,648 -15,996 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 51.9% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 people). In Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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