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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 134,518 people in Kiribati in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 139,020 in Kiribati.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 882 times bigger than Kiribati's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Kiribati is the 180th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.002% for Kiribati.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +1.53% in Kiribati.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Kiribati has grown from 100K to 139K (39% growth).

Japan vs Kiribati: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Kiribati
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Kiribati
2100 76,978,998 224,304
2099 77,363,458 224,298
2098 77,742,445 224,273
2097 78,118,375 224,218
2096 78,498,614 224,129
2095 78,875,245 224,011
2094 79,250,325 223,823
2093 79,628,057 223,610
2092 80,007,967 223,345
2091 80,383,529 222,990
2090 80,760,724 222,603
2089 81,140,553 222,236
2088 81,521,696 221,815
2087 81,908,373 221,342
2086 82,304,497 220,868
2085 82,709,534 220,356
2084 83,123,058 219,806
2083 83,544,006 219,225
2082 83,980,325 218,627
2081 84,429,305 218,023
2080 84,899,768 217,379
2079 85,387,247 216,698
2078 85,897,934 216,006
2077 86,434,291 215,335
2076 86,993,007 214,593
2075 87,577,777 213,814
2074 88,190,392 213,008
2073 88,834,763 212,192
2072 89,499,356 211,363
2071 90,184,464 210,474
2070 90,899,136 209,555
2069 91,625,421 208,630
2068 92,367,969 207,619
2067 93,113,499 206,540
2066 93,869,240 205,477
2065 94,633,430 204,345
2064 95,391,433 203,209
2063 96,148,081 202,011
2062 96,902,907 200,844
2061 97,654,031 199,618
2060 98,400,894 198,339
2059 99,144,216 196,959
2058 99,868,968 195,550
2057 100,585,601 194,095
2056 101,295,868 192,602
2055 101,989,736 191,105
2054 102,683,462 189,574
2053 103,359,083 188,051
2052 104,036,901 186,430
2051 104,706,698 184,824
2050 105,377,283 183,129
2049 106,053,011 181,377
2048 106,731,207 179,576
2047 107,419,237 177,832
2046 108,115,358 176,010
2045 108,820,982 174,194
2044 109,529,333 172,376
2043 110,245,586 170,499
2042 110,968,174 168,651
2041 111,704,629 166,820
2040 112,438,759 165,023
2039 113,175,948 163,172
2038 113,915,783 161,308
2037 114,662,374 159,426
2036 115,410,956 157,529
2035 116,162,381 155,656
2034 116,911,001 153,821
2033 117,652,676 151,958
2032 118,393,188 150,080
2031 119,127,425 148,164
2030 119,856,131 146,257
2029 120,574,242 144,338
2028 121,287,543 142,425
2027 121,989,133 140,456
2026 122,677,250 138,488
2025 123,339,586 136,514
2024 123,975,371 134,518
2023 124,516,650 132,530
2022 125,124,989 130,469
2021 125,681,593 128,377
2020 126,261,000 126,099
2019 126,633,000 123,921
2018 126,811,000 122,084
2017 126,972,000 120,275
2016 127,076,000 118,478
2015 127,141,000 116,815
2014 127,276,000 115,326
2013 127,445,000 113,838
2012 127,629,000 112,284
2011 127,833,000 110,647
2010 128,070,000 108,704
2009 128,047,000 106,467
2008 128,063,000 104,222
2007 128,001,000 102,068
2006 127,854,000 100,017
2005 127,773,000 98,035
2004 127,761,000 96,085
2003 127,718,000 94,175
2002 127,445,000 92,264
2001 127,149,000 90,335
2000 126,843,000 88,613
1999 126,631,000 87,126
1998 126,400,000 85,657
1997 126,057,000 84,147
1996 125,757,000 82,623
1995 125,472,000 81,234
1994 125,178,000 80,021
1993 124,829,000 78,841
1992 124,425,000 77,641
1991 123,964,000 76,367
1990 123,478,000 74,855
1989 123,069,000 73,147
1988 122,578,000 71,427
1987 122,069,000 69,733
1986 121,482,000 68,059
1985 120,837,000 66,496
1984 120,083,000 65,228
1983 119,307,000 64,169
1982 118,480,000 63,134
1981 117,661,000 62,121
1980 116,807,000 61,148
1979 115,890,000 60,172
1978 114,913,000 59,864
1977 113,872,000 60,267
1976 112,775,000 60,661
1975 111,573,000 60,987
1974 110,162,000 61,219
1973 108,707,000 60,824
1972 107,188,000 59,778
1971 105,697,000 58,652
1970 103,403,000 57,510
1969 102,219,000 56,360
1968 101,011,000 55,529
1967 99,879,000 54,996
1966 98,851,000 54,425
1965 97,952,000 53,439
1964 96,903,000 52,088
1963 95,900,000 50,791
1962 94,933,000 49,538
1961 94,055,000 48,323
1960 93,216,000 47,157

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/japan/kiribati | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Kiribati gained 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Kiribati's population increased by 20,542 people (a 17.3% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Kiribati was ranked 183rd in 2006 and ranked 180th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Kiribati will increase by 31.7% to 183,129 people and rank change from 180th to 178th.

Kiribati is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 224K 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

Japan
Factual

Projection
Kiribati
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Kiribati
2100 -0.5% 0.003%
2099 -0.49% 0.01%
2098 -0.48% 0.02%
2097 -0.48% 0.04%
2096 -0.48% 0.05%
2095 -0.47% 0.08%
2094 -0.47% 0.1%
2093 -0.47% 0.12%
2092 -0.47% 0.16%
2091 -0.47% 0.17%
2090 -0.47% 0.17%
2089 -0.47% 0.19%
2088 -0.47% 0.21%
2087 -0.48% 0.21%
2086 -0.49% 0.23%
2085 -0.5% 0.25%
2084 -0.5% 0.27%
2083 -0.52% 0.27%
2082 -0.53% 0.28%
2081 -0.55% 0.3%
2080 -0.57% 0.31%
2079 -0.59% 0.32%
2078 -0.62% 0.31%
2077 -0.64% 0.35%
2076 -0.67% 0.36%
2075 -0.69% 0.38%
2074 -0.73% 0.38%
2073 -0.74% 0.39%
2072 -0.76% 0.42%
2071 -0.79% 0.44%
2070 -0.79% 0.44%
2069 -0.8% 0.49%
2068 -0.8% 0.52%
2067 -0.81% 0.52%
2066 -0.81% 0.55%
2065 -0.79% 0.56%
2064 -0.79% 0.59%
2063 -0.78% 0.58%
2062 -0.77% 0.61%
2061 -0.76% 0.65%
2060 -0.75% 0.7%
2059 -0.73% 0.72%
2058 -0.71% 0.75%
2057 -0.7% 0.78%
2056 -0.68% 0.78%
2055 -0.68% 0.81%
2054 -0.65% 0.81%
2053 -0.65% 0.87%
2052 -0.64% 0.87%
2051 -0.64% 0.93%
2050 -0.64% 0.97%
2049 -0.64% 1%
2048 -0.64% 0.98%
2047 -0.64% 1.03%
2046 -0.65% 1.04%
2045 -0.65% 1.05%
2044 -0.65% 1.1%
2043 -0.65% 1.1%
2042 -0.66% 1.1%
2041 -0.65% 1.09%
2040 -0.65% 1.13%
2039 -0.65% 1.16%
2038 -0.65% 1.18%
2037 -0.65% 1.2%
2036 -0.65% 1.2%
2035 -0.64% 1.19%
2034 -0.63% 1.23%
2033 -0.63% 1.25%
2032 -0.62% 1.29%
2031 -0.61% 1.3%
2030 -0.6% 1.33%
2029 -0.59% 1.34%
2028 -0.58% 1.4%
2027 -0.56% 1.42%
2026 -0.54% 1.45%
2025 -0.51% 1.48%
2024 -0.43% 1.5%
2023 -0.49% 1.58%
2022 -0.44% 1.63%
2021 -0.46% 1.81%
2020 -0.29% 1.76%
2019 -0.14% 1.5%
2018 -0.13% 1.5%
2017 -0.08% 1.52%
2016 -0.05% 1.42%
2015 -0.11% 1.29%
2014 -0.13% 1.31%
2013 -0.14% 1.38%
2012 -0.16% 1.48%
2011 -0.19% 1.79%
2010 0.02% 2.1%
2009 -0.01% 2.15%
2008 0.05% 2.11%
2007 0.11% 2.05%
2006 0.06% 2.02%
2005 0.009% 2.03%
2004 0.03% 2.03%
2003 0.21% 2.07%
2002 0.23% 2.14%
2001 0.24% 1.94%
2000 0.17% 1.71%
1999 0.18% 1.71%
1998 0.27% 1.79%
1997 0.24% 1.84%
1996 0.23% 1.71%
1995 0.23% 1.52%
1994 0.28% 1.5%
1993 0.32% 1.55%
1992 0.37% 1.67%
1991 0.39% 2.02%
1990 0.33% 2.34%
1989 0.4% 2.41%
1988 0.42% 2.43%
1987 0.48% 2.46%
1986 0.53% 2.35%
1985 0.63% 1.94%
1984 0.65% 1.65%
1983 0.7% 1.64%
1982 0.7% 1.63%
1981 0.73% 1.59%
1980 0.79% 1.62%
1979 0.85% 0.51%
1978 0.91% -0.67%
1977 0.97% -0.65%
1976 1.08% -0.53%
1975 1.28% -0.38%
1974 1.34% 0.65%
1973 1.42% 1.75%
1972 1.41% 1.92%
1971 2.22% 1.99%
1970 1.16% 2.04%
1969 1.2% 1.5%
1968 1.13% 0.97%
1967 1.04% 1.05%
1966 0.92% 1.85%
1965 1.08% 2.59%
1964 1.05% 2.55%
1963 1.02% 2.53%
1962 0.93% 2.51%
1961 0.9% 2.47%

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/japan/kiribati | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Kiribati's population grew by 1.5%.

Live population counters

Japan Kiribati
Current population
122677250
139020
Population rank 12/197 180/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.002%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
4.41 hours
One birth every
42.2 seconds
2.56 hours
One death every
19.5 seconds
9.39 hours
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +5
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +1,988
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.5%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 72/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
19 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 -462
Net migration rank 10/196 88/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 3,302
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 190/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 2.5%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 128/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Kiribati
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Kiribati
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -462
2024 - 153,357 - -471
2023 -871,617 175,003 2,487 -485
2022 -825,825 175,003 2,522 -395
2021 -640,976 -34,996 2,408 -348
2020 -542,923 42,001 2,497 0
2019 -531,858 318,190 2,560 -705
2018 -456,520 320,601 2,561 -741
2017 -406,310 322,564 2,549 -750
2016 -343,106 314,732 2,546 -756
2015 -292,424 168,896 2,555 -1,022
2014 -267,279 58,109 2,577 -1,128
2013 -242,146 66,449 2,629 -1,101
2012 -229,733 67,904 2,678 -1,093
2011 -204,533 97,720 2,709 -1,019
2010 -128,070 131,860 2,644 -456
2009 -76,828 125,450 2,573 -289
2008 -51,225 142,605 2,493 -289
2007 -25,600 138,024 2,393 -290
2006 12,785 130,065 2,285 -290
2005 -25,554 113,017 2,188 -226
2004 76,656 69,014 2,118 -181
2003 114,946 74,875 2,045 -157
2002 178,423 60,864 2,074 -137
2001 203,438 59,563 2,121 -201
2000 228,317 23,468 2,153 -629
1999 202,610 56,901 2,186 -733
1998 265,440 45,912 2,210 -716
1997 277,325 43,366 2,220 -693
1996 314,392 25,030 2,217 -701
1995 276,039 87,714 2,183 -928
1994 363,017 154,214 2,168 -996
1993 312,073 168,836 2,161 -975
1992 360,833 170,878 2,173 -951
1991 396,685 161,331 2,176 -844
1990 407,478 124,582 2,127 -441
1989 467,662 31,202 2,073 -338
1988 527,085 51,154 2,022 -321
1987 598,138 28,001 1,982 -298
1986 631,706 27,987 1,933 -273
1985 676,687 -141,323 1,881 -419
1984 756,523 -273,686 1,813 -730
1983 775,495 -269,755 1,748 -702
1982 805,664 -288,550 1,697 -674
1981 811,861 -278,525 1,635 -645
1980 864,372 -92,314 1,571 -610
1979 950,298 -57,692 1,509 -516
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 1,480 -1,858
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 1,426 -1,854
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 1,425 -1,795
1975 1,204,989 107 1,423 -1,706
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 1,430 -1,605
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 1,409 -440
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 1,406 -290
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 1,406 -265
1970 1,230,496 33,731 1,388 -233
1969 1,195,962 49,447 1,367 -222
1968 1,191,930 43,593 1,393 -876
1967 1,258,475 29,632 1,417 -873
1966 682,072 68,934 1,437 -840
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 1,376 0
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 1,318 0
1963 987,770 -100,742 1,273 0
1962 901,864 -57,075 1,233 0
1961 893,522 -58,882 1,199 0
1960 894,874 -150,371 1,141 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people). In Kiribati 80% is from natural causes (a gain of 25,262 people) and 20% is from migration (a loss of 6,330 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 3,302 people or 2.5% in Kiribati.

Biggest cities by population

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
Kiribati
City Population
South Tarawa 63.4K
London 1.9K

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/japan/kiribati | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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