Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 7,873,046 people in Laos in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 8,027,464 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 15.3 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.57% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +1.47% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8.03M (34.6% growth).

Japan vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Laos
2100 76,995,942 9,340,510
2099 77,380,486 9,387,374
2098 77,759,557 9,433,309
2097 78,135,569 9,478,091
2096 78,515,892 9,521,914
2095 78,892,606 9,564,898
2094 79,267,768 9,607,314
2093 79,645,584 9,648,899
2092 80,025,578 9,689,414
2091 80,401,222 9,729,262
2090 80,778,500 9,767,923
2089 81,158,413 9,805,489
2088 81,539,639 9,841,933
2087 81,926,401 9,876,893
2086 82,322,612 9,910,678
2085 82,727,738 9,942,991
2084 83,141,354 9,973,375
2083 83,562,394 10,002,778
2082 83,998,809 10,030,306
2081 84,447,888 10,056,473
2080 84,918,455 10,080,959
2079 85,406,042 10,104,434
2078 85,916,840 10,126,099
2077 86,453,316 10,146,255
2076 87,012,155 10,163,547
2075 87,597,053 10,179,776
2074 88,209,803 10,194,216
2073 88,854,316 10,206,546
2072 89,519,055 10,216,287
2071 90,204,314 10,223,430
2070 90,919,143 10,229,612
2069 91,645,589 10,233,020
2068 92,388,299 10,233,371
2067 93,133,993 10,231,633
2066 93,889,902 10,226,448
2065 94,654,259 10,219,732
2064 95,412,429 10,210,382
2063 96,169,244 10,198,463
2062 96,924,236 10,184,239
2061 97,675,525 10,166,878
2060 98,422,553 10,146,829
2059 99,166,038 10,124,398
2058 99,890,950 10,098,721
2057 100,607,740 10,070,317
2056 101,318,164 10,039,482
2055 102,012,184 10,006,669
2054 102,706,063 9,970,363
2053 103,381,833 9,931,133
2052 104,059,800 9,889,162
2051 104,729,745 9,844,445
2050 105,400,477 9,797,566
2049 106,076,354 9,748,481
2048 106,754,699 9,695,755
2047 107,442,881 9,641,319
2046 108,139,155 9,584,097
2045 108,844,934 9,524,890
2044 109,553,441 9,462,921
2043 110,269,851 9,399,555
2042 110,992,599 9,332,795
2041 111,729,216 9,264,069
2040 112,463,507 9,193,691
2039 113,200,859 9,120,921
2038 113,940,856 9,044,658
2037 114,687,611 8,966,687
2036 115,436,359 8,886,908
2035 116,187,949 8,805,396
2034 116,936,734 8,721,979
2033 117,678,572 8,636,299
2032 118,419,247 8,548,097
2031 119,153,646 8,457,770
2030 119,882,512 8,365,427
2029 120,600,781 8,271,316
2028 121,314,239 8,174,975
2027 122,015,984 8,076,308
2026 122,704,252 7,975,876
2025 123,366,734 7,873,046
2024 123,975,371 7,769,819
2023 124,516,650 7,664,993
2022 125,124,989 7,559,007
2021 125,681,593 7,453,194
2020 126,261,000 7,346,533
2019 126,633,000 7,237,636
2018 126,811,000 7,128,045
2017 126,972,000 7,018,147
2016 127,076,000 6,908,802
2015 127,141,000 6,801,645
2014 127,276,000 6,703,172
2013 127,445,000 6,611,385
2012 127,629,000 6,518,978
2011 127,833,000 6,426,590
2010 128,070,000 6,334,194
2009 128,047,000 6,241,642
2008 128,063,000 6,148,969
2007 128,001,000 6,056,236
2006 127,854,000 5,963,200
2005 127,773,000 5,869,523
2004 127,761,000 5,781,626
2003 127,718,000 5,697,945
2002 127,445,000 5,610,889
2001 127,149,000 5,521,482
2000 126,843,000 5,431,212
1999 126,631,000 5,340,784
1998 126,400,000 5,248,266
1997 126,057,000 5,152,011
1996 125,757,000 5,045,678
1995 125,472,000 4,929,409
1994 125,178,000 4,809,220
1993 124,829,000 4,685,060
1992 124,425,000 4,559,646
1991 123,964,000 4,435,118
1990 123,478,000 4,311,955
1989 123,069,000 4,190,974
1988 122,578,000 4,072,601
1987 122,069,000 3,957,612
1986 121,482,000 3,846,715
1985 120,837,000 3,739,985
1984 120,083,000 3,637,843
1983 119,307,000 3,541,001
1982 118,480,000 3,450,026
1981 117,661,000 3,366,631
1980 116,807,000 3,292,573
1979 115,890,000 3,228,202
1978 114,913,000 3,171,740
1977 113,872,000 3,118,923
1976 112,775,000 3,064,876
1975 111,573,000 3,005,521
1974 110,162,000 2,939,761
1973 108,707,000 2,870,573
1972 107,188,000 2,801,660
1971 105,697,000 2,734,628
1970 103,403,000 2,669,702
1969 102,219,000 2,606,959
1968 101,011,000 2,546,377
1967 99,879,000 2,487,715
1966 98,851,000 2,431,084
1965 97,952,000 2,376,200
1964 96,903,000 2,322,826
1963 95,900,000 2,271,061
1962 94,933,000 2,219,910
1961 94,055,000 2,169,796
1960 93,216,000 2,121,514

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/japan/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Laos' population increased by 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Laos was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 103rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Laos will increase by 22.1% to 9,797,566 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M 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
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Laos
2100 -0.5% -0.5%
2099 -0.49% -0.49%
2098 -0.48% -0.47%
2097 -0.48% -0.46%
2096 -0.48% -0.45%
2095 -0.47% -0.44%
2094 -0.47% -0.43%
2093 -0.47% -0.42%
2092 -0.47% -0.41%
2091 -0.47% -0.4%
2090 -0.47% -0.38%
2089 -0.47% -0.37%
2088 -0.47% -0.35%
2087 -0.48% -0.34%
2086 -0.49% -0.32%
2085 -0.5% -0.3%
2084 -0.5% -0.29%
2083 -0.52% -0.27%
2082 -0.53% -0.26%
2081 -0.55% -0.24%
2080 -0.57% -0.23%
2079 -0.59% -0.21%
2078 -0.62% -0.2%
2077 -0.64% -0.17%
2076 -0.67% -0.16%
2075 -0.69% -0.14%
2074 -0.73% -0.12%
2073 -0.74% -0.1%
2072 -0.76% -0.07%
2071 -0.79% -0.06%
2070 -0.79% -0.03%
2069 -0.8% -0.003%
2068 -0.8% 0.02%
2067 -0.81% 0.05%
2066 -0.81% 0.07%
2065 -0.79% 0.09%
2064 -0.79% 0.12%
2063 -0.78% 0.14%
2062 -0.77% 0.17%
2061 -0.76% 0.2%
2060 -0.75% 0.22%
2059 -0.73% 0.25%
2058 -0.71% 0.28%
2057 -0.7% 0.31%
2056 -0.68% 0.33%
2055 -0.68% 0.36%
2054 -0.65% 0.4%
2053 -0.65% 0.42%
2052 -0.64% 0.45%
2051 -0.64% 0.48%
2050 -0.64% 0.5%
2049 -0.64% 0.54%
2048 -0.64% 0.56%
2047 -0.64% 0.6%
2046 -0.65% 0.62%
2045 -0.65% 0.65%
2044 -0.65% 0.67%
2043 -0.65% 0.72%
2042 -0.66% 0.74%
2041 -0.65% 0.77%
2040 -0.65% 0.8%
2039 -0.65% 0.84%
2038 -0.65% 0.87%
2037 -0.65% 0.9%
2036 -0.65% 0.93%
2035 -0.64% 0.96%
2034 -0.63% 0.99%
2033 -0.63% 1.03%
2032 -0.62% 1.07%
2031 -0.61% 1.1%
2030 -0.6% 1.14%
2029 -0.59% 1.18%
2028 -0.58% 1.22%
2027 -0.56% 1.26%
2026 -0.54% 1.31%
2025 -0.49% 1.33%
2024 -0.43% 1.37%
2023 -0.49% 1.4%
2022 -0.44% 1.42%
2021 -0.46% 1.45%
2020 -0.29% 1.5%
2019 -0.14% 1.54%
2018 -0.13% 1.57%
2017 -0.08% 1.58%
2016 -0.05% 1.58%
2015 -0.11% 1.47%
2014 -0.13% 1.39%
2013 -0.14% 1.42%
2012 -0.16% 1.44%
2011 -0.19% 1.46%
2010 0.02% 1.48%
2009 -0.01% 1.51%
2008 0.05% 1.53%
2007 0.11% 1.56%
2006 0.06% 1.6%
2005 0.009% 1.52%
2004 0.03% 1.47%
2003 0.21% 1.55%
2002 0.23% 1.62%
2001 0.24% 1.66%
2000 0.17% 1.69%
1999 0.18% 1.76%
1998 0.27% 1.87%
1997 0.24% 2.11%
1996 0.23% 2.36%
1995 0.23% 2.5%
1994 0.28% 2.65%
1993 0.32% 2.75%
1992 0.37% 2.81%
1991 0.39% 2.86%
1990 0.33% 2.89%
1989 0.4% 2.91%
1988 0.42% 2.91%
1987 0.48% 2.88%
1986 0.53% 2.85%
1985 0.63% 2.81%
1984 0.65% 2.73%
1983 0.7% 2.64%
1982 0.7% 2.48%
1981 0.73% 2.25%
1980 0.79% 1.99%
1979 0.85% 1.78%
1978 0.91% 1.69%
1977 0.97% 1.76%
1976 1.08% 1.97%
1975 1.28% 2.24%
1974 1.34% 2.41%
1973 1.42% 2.46%
1972 1.41% 2.45%
1971 2.22% 2.43%
1970 1.16% 2.41%
1969 1.2% 2.38%
1968 1.13% 2.36%
1967 1.04% 2.33%
1966 0.92% 2.31%
1965 1.08% 2.3%
1964 1.05% 2.28%
1963 1.02% 2.3%
1962 0.93% 2.31%
1961 0.9% 2.28%

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/japan/laos | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Laos' population grew by 1.33%.

Live population counters

Japan Laos
Current population
122704252
8027464
Population rank 12/197 103/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.1%
One net population change
52 seconds
5.11 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
3.23 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +283
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +103,227
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +1.33%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 76/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -10,645
Net migration rank 10/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -10,645
2024 -942,213 153,357 114,574 -10,284
2023 -871,617 175,003 115,359 -10,003
2022 -825,825 175,003 116,620 -10,003
2021 -640,976 -34,996 115,323 -10,305
2020 -542,923 42,001 118,609 -10,305
2019 -531,858 318,190 119,797 -10,305
2018 -456,520 320,601 119,986 -10,305
2017 -406,310 322,564 120,515 -10,400
2016 -343,106 314,732 119,978 -11,401
2015 -292,424 168,896 118,723 -12,991
2014 -267,279 58,109 118,103 -26,881
2013 -242,146 66,449 119,845 -27,492
2012 -229,733 67,904 121,324 -28,871
2011 -204,533 97,720 122,863 -30,538
2010 -128,070 131,860 122,516 -30,046
2009 -76,828 125,450 122,174 -29,545
2008 -51,225 142,605 121,042 -28,318
2007 -25,600 138,024 119,980 -27,233
2006 12,785 130,065 118,602 -25,286
2005 -25,554 113,017 118,165 -24,138
2004 76,656 69,014 121,888 -40,120
2003 114,946 74,875 122,158 -36,572
2002 178,423 60,864 122,110 -33,595
2001 203,438 59,563 123,847 -33,552
2000 228,317 23,468 124,201 -33,965
1999 202,610 56,901 127,255 -36,632
1998 265,440 45,912 128,409 -33,997
1997 277,325 43,366 130,388 -32,288
1996 314,392 25,030 131,142 -16,574
1995 276,039 87,714 132,241 -14,279
1994 363,017 154,214 134,201 -11,782
1993 312,073 168,836 135,295 -9,390
1992 360,833 170,878 132,417 -7,502
1991 396,685 161,331 129,523 -5,390
1990 407,478 124,582 125,297 -3,100
1989 467,662 31,202 121,044 -1,272
1988 527,085 51,154 117,050 -80
1987 598,138 28,001 113,005 0
1986 631,706 27,987 109,266 -475
1985 676,687 -141,323 106,047 -1,376
1984 756,523 -273,686 102,318 -2,698
1983 775,495 -269,755 98,178 -4,108
1982 805,664 -288,550 94,058 -6,184
1981 811,861 -278,525 89,963 -11,061
1980 864,372 -92,314 86,548 -17,339
1979 950,298 -57,692 82,852 -23,317
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 80,604 -27,208
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 79,149 -26,908
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 77,575 -21,738
1975 1,204,989 107 76,725 -13,858
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 74,652 -6,000
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 70,513 -774
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 68,095 0
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 65,959 0
1970 1,230,496 33,731 63,896 0
1969 1,195,962 49,447 61,595 0
1968 1,191,930 43,593 59,567 0
1967 1,258,475 29,632 57,763 0
1966 682,072 68,934 55,494 0
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 54,268 0
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 52,482 0
1963 987,770 -100,742 51,056 0
1962 901,864 -57,075 51,244 0
1961 893,522 -58,882 48,992 0
1960 894,874 -150,371 47,575 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people). In Laos 91.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/japan/laos | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.