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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 1,866,124 people in Latvia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 1,829,763 in Latvia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 67 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Latvia is the 149th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.02% for Latvia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs -0.68% in Latvia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Latvia has declined from 2.22M to 1.83M (17.5% decline).

Japan vs Latvia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Latvia
2100 76,978,998 923,408
2099 77,363,458 932,882
2098 77,742,445 942,357
2097 78,118,375 951,702
2096 78,498,614 961,114
2095 78,875,245 970,470
2094 79,250,325 979,811
2093 79,628,057 989,107
2092 80,007,967 998,497
2091 80,383,529 1,007,961
2090 80,760,724 1,017,465
2089 81,140,553 1,026,994
2088 81,521,696 1,036,657
2087 81,908,373 1,046,527
2086 82,304,497 1,056,483
2085 82,709,534 1,066,499
2084 83,123,058 1,076,818
2083 83,544,006 1,087,423
2082 83,980,325 1,098,154
2081 84,429,305 1,109,075
2080 84,899,768 1,120,211
2079 85,387,247 1,131,602
2078 85,897,934 1,143,002
2077 86,434,291 1,154,458
2076 86,993,007 1,166,122
2075 87,577,777 1,177,964
2074 88,190,392 1,189,889
2073 88,834,763 1,201,798
2072 89,499,356 1,213,804
2071 90,184,464 1,226,159
2070 90,899,136 1,238,635
2069 91,625,421 1,251,199
2068 92,367,969 1,264,197
2067 93,113,499 1,277,382
2066 93,869,240 1,290,492
2065 94,633,430 1,304,082
2064 95,391,433 1,317,729
2063 96,148,081 1,331,316
2062 96,902,907 1,344,939
2061 97,654,031 1,358,659
2060 98,400,894 1,372,730
2059 99,144,216 1,386,684
2058 99,868,968 1,400,736
2057 100,585,601 1,414,911
2056 101,295,868 1,429,035
2055 101,989,736 1,442,863
2054 102,683,462 1,456,686
2053 103,359,083 1,470,334
2052 104,036,901 1,483,843
2051 104,706,698 1,496,515
2050 105,377,283 1,509,248
2049 106,053,011 1,521,989
2048 106,731,207 1,534,656
2047 107,419,237 1,547,203
2046 108,115,358 1,559,641
2045 108,820,982 1,572,396
2044 109,529,333 1,584,822
2043 110,245,586 1,597,317
2042 110,968,174 1,609,668
2041 111,704,629 1,622,468
2040 112,438,759 1,635,132
2039 113,175,948 1,648,215
2038 113,915,783 1,661,175
2037 114,662,374 1,674,137
2036 115,410,956 1,687,461
2035 116,162,381 1,700,759
2034 116,911,001 1,714,411
2033 117,652,676 1,728,562
2032 118,393,188 1,742,976
2031 119,127,425 1,757,310
2030 119,856,131 1,772,264
2029 120,574,242 1,786,824
2028 121,287,543 1,801,228
2027 121,989,133 1,815,599
2026 122,677,250 1,829,763
2025 123,339,586 1,850,593
2024 123,975,371 1,866,124
2023 124,516,650 1,883,710
2022 125,124,989 1,879,383
2021 125,681,593 1,884,490
2020 126,261,000 1,900,449
2019 126,633,000 1,913,822
2018 126,811,000 1,927,174
2017 126,972,000 1,942,248
2016 127,076,000 1,959,537
2015 127,141,000 1,977,527
2014 127,276,000 1,993,782
2013 127,445,000 2,012,647
2012 127,629,000 2,034,319
2011 127,833,000 2,059,709
2010 128,070,000 2,097,555
2009 128,047,000 2,141,669
2008 128,063,000 2,177,322
2007 128,001,000 2,200,325
2006 127,854,000 2,218,357
2005 127,773,000 2,238,799
2004 127,761,000 2,263,122
2003 127,718,000 2,287,955
2002 127,445,000 2,310,173
2001 127,149,000 2,337,170
2000 126,843,000 2,367,550
1999 126,631,000 2,390,482
1998 126,400,000 2,410,019
1997 126,057,000 2,432,851
1996 125,757,000 2,457,222
1995 125,472,000 2,485,056
1994 125,178,000 2,520,742
1993 124,829,000 2,563,290
1992 124,425,000 2,614,338
1991 123,964,000 2,650,581
1990 123,478,000 2,663,151
1989 123,069,000 2,666,955
1988 122,578,000 2,653,434
1987 122,069,000 2,626,583
1986 121,482,000 2,599,892
1985 120,837,000 2,578,873
1984 120,083,000 2,562,047
1983 119,307,000 2,546,011
1982 118,480,000 2,531,080
1981 117,661,000 2,519,421
1980 116,807,000 2,511,701
1979 115,890,000 2,505,953
1978 114,913,000 2,497,921
1977 113,872,000 2,485,073
1976 112,775,000 2,470,989
1975 111,573,000 2,456,130
1974 110,162,000 2,437,186
1973 108,707,000 2,415,819
1972 107,188,000 2,395,674
1971 105,697,000 2,376,389
1970 103,403,000 2,359,164
1969 102,219,000 2,343,173
1968 101,011,000 2,323,619
1967 99,879,000 2,301,220
1966 98,851,000 2,283,217
1965 97,952,000 2,265,919
1964 96,903,000 2,240,623
1963 95,900,000 2,210,919
1962 94,933,000 2,181,586
1961 94,055,000 2,152,681
1960 93,216,000 2,120,979

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/latvia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Latvia lost 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Latvia's population decreased by 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Latvia was ranked 140th in 2006 and ranked 149th 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 Latvia will decrease by 17.5% to 1,509,248 people and rank change from 149th to 155th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 29.1% of the population in Japan and 36.3% in Latvia.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Latvia
2100 -0.5% -1.02%
2099 -0.49% -1.01%
2098 -0.48% -0.98%
2097 -0.48% -0.98%
2096 -0.48% -0.96%
2095 -0.47% -0.95%
2094 -0.47% -0.94%
2093 -0.47% -0.94%
2092 -0.47% -0.94%
2091 -0.47% -0.93%
2090 -0.47% -0.93%
2089 -0.47% -0.93%
2088 -0.47% -0.94%
2087 -0.48% -0.94%
2086 -0.49% -0.94%
2085 -0.5% -0.96%
2084 -0.5% -0.98%
2083 -0.52% -0.98%
2082 -0.53% -0.98%
2081 -0.55% -0.99%
2080 -0.57% -1.01%
2079 -0.59% -1%
2078 -0.62% -0.99%
2077 -0.64% -1%
2076 -0.67% -1.01%
2075 -0.69% -1%
2074 -0.73% -0.99%
2073 -0.74% -0.99%
2072 -0.76% -1.01%
2071 -0.79% -1.01%
2070 -0.79% -1%
2069 -0.8% -1.03%
2068 -0.8% -1.03%
2067 -0.81% -1.02%
2066 -0.81% -1.04%
2065 -0.79% -1.04%
2064 -0.79% -1.02%
2063 -0.78% -1.01%
2062 -0.77% -1.01%
2061 -0.76% -1.03%
2060 -0.75% -1.01%
2059 -0.73% -1%
2058 -0.71% -1%
2057 -0.7% -0.99%
2056 -0.68% -0.96%
2055 -0.68% -0.95%
2054 -0.65% -0.93%
2053 -0.65% -0.91%
2052 -0.64% -0.85%
2051 -0.64% -0.84%
2050 -0.64% -0.84%
2049 -0.64% -0.83%
2048 -0.64% -0.81%
2047 -0.64% -0.8%
2046 -0.65% -0.81%
2045 -0.65% -0.78%
2044 -0.65% -0.78%
2043 -0.65% -0.77%
2042 -0.66% -0.79%
2041 -0.65% -0.77%
2040 -0.65% -0.79%
2039 -0.65% -0.78%
2038 -0.65% -0.77%
2037 -0.65% -0.79%
2036 -0.65% -0.78%
2035 -0.64% -0.8%
2034 -0.63% -0.82%
2033 -0.63% -0.83%
2032 -0.62% -0.82%
2031 -0.61% -0.84%
2030 -0.6% -0.81%
2029 -0.59% -0.8%
2028 -0.58% -0.79%
2027 -0.56% -0.77%
2026 -0.54% -1.13%
2025 -0.51% -0.83%
2024 -0.43% -0.93%
2023 -0.49% 0.23%
2022 -0.44% -0.27%
2021 -0.46% -0.84%
2020 -0.29% -0.7%
2019 -0.14% -0.69%
2018 -0.13% -0.78%
2017 -0.08% -0.88%
2016 -0.05% -0.91%
2015 -0.11% -0.82%
2014 -0.13% -0.94%
2013 -0.14% -1.07%
2012 -0.16% -1.23%
2011 -0.19% -1.8%
2010 0.02% -2.06%
2009 -0.01% -1.64%
2008 0.05% -1.05%
2007 0.11% -0.81%
2006 0.06% -0.91%
2005 0.009% -1.07%
2004 0.03% -1.09%
2003 0.21% -0.96%
2002 0.23% -1.16%
2001 0.24% -1.28%
2000 0.17% -0.96%
1999 0.18% -0.81%
1998 0.27% -0.94%
1997 0.24% -0.99%
1996 0.23% -1.12%
1995 0.23% -1.42%
1994 0.28% -1.66%
1993 0.32% -1.95%
1992 0.37% -1.37%
1991 0.39% -0.47%
1990 0.33% -0.14%
1989 0.4% 0.51%
1988 0.42% 1.02%
1987 0.48% 1.03%
1986 0.53% 0.82%
1985 0.63% 0.66%
1984 0.65% 0.63%
1983 0.7% 0.59%
1982 0.7% 0.46%
1981 0.73% 0.31%
1980 0.79% 0.23%
1979 0.85% 0.32%
1978 0.91% 0.52%
1977 0.97% 0.57%
1976 1.08% 0.6%
1975 1.28% 0.78%
1974 1.34% 0.88%
1973 1.42% 0.84%
1972 1.41% 0.81%
1971 2.22% 0.73%
1970 1.16% 0.68%
1969 1.2% 0.84%
1968 1.13% 0.97%
1967 1.04% 0.79%
1966 0.92% 0.76%
1965 1.08% 1.13%
1964 1.05% 1.34%
1963 1.02% 1.34%
1962 0.93% 1.34%
1961 0.9% 1.49%

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/latvia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Latvia's population declined by 0.93%.

Live population counters

Japan Latvia
Current population
122677250
1829763
Population rank 12/197 149/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.02%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
29.9 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
36.2 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
18.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 -48
Annual growth/decline -541,279 -17,586
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% -0.93%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 193/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.2 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 -7,330
Net migration rank 10/196 125/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 220,471
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 108/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 11.8%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 57/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Latvia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Latvia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -7,330
2024 - 153,357 - -2,225
2023 -871,617 175,003 -13,563 7,966
2022 -825,825 175,003 -14,847 22,027
2021 -640,976 -34,996 -17,337 -280
2020 -542,923 42,001 -11,402 -3,147
2019 -531,858 318,190 -8,995 -3,416
2018 -456,520 320,601 -9,636 -4,972
2017 -406,310 322,564 -7,963 -7,867
2016 -343,106 314,732 -6,663 -12,327
2015 -292,424 168,896 -6,526 -10,826
2014 -267,279 58,109 -6,779 -8,799
2013 -242,146 66,449 -8,252 -14,386
2012 -229,733 67,904 -9,154 -11,914
2011 -204,533 97,720 -9,886 -20,202
2010 -128,070 131,860 -10,278 -36,128
2009 -76,828 125,450 -7,924 -34,807
2008 -51,225 142,605 -6,531 -22,445
2007 -25,600 138,024 -9,021 -8,027
2006 12,785 130,065 -10,204 -9,211
2005 -25,554 113,017 -10,746 -11,134
2004 76,656 69,014 -11,542 -15,136
2003 114,946 74,875 -11,439 -11,422
2002 178,423 60,864 -12,475 -9,160
2001 203,438 59,563 -13,322 -18,634
2000 228,317 23,468 -11,838 -15,679
1999 202,610 56,901 -13,387 -3,229
1998 265,440 45,912 -15,906 -5,504
1997 277,325 43,366 -14,841 -9,183
1996 314,392 25,030 -14,498 -9,888
1995 276,039 87,714 -17,396 -13,288
1994 363,017 154,214 -17,645 -21,446
1993 312,073 168,836 -12,560 -32,914
1992 360,833 170,878 -3,660 -52,180
1991 396,685 161,331 0 -12,020
1990 407,478 124,582 2,929 -13,196
1989 467,662 31,202 6,401 -4,960
1988 527,085 51,154 9,022 15,784
1987 598,138 28,001 9,981 19,249
1986 631,706 27,987 10,660 13,972
1985 676,687 -141,323 5,673 12,037
1984 756,523 -273,686 7,430 8,847
1983 775,495 -269,755 8,147 8,115
1982 805,664 -288,550 6,327 8,116
1981 811,861 -278,525 3,779 6,536
1980 864,372 -92,314 3,265 3,099
1979 950,298 -57,692 2,506 3,661
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 2,997 7,399
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 3,480 11,992
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 4,200 8,870
1975 1,204,989 107 4,913 12,166
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 6,824 14,420
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 6,040 15,997
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 7,666 11,077
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 8,793 10,846
1970 1,230,496 33,731 7,785 12,494
1969 1,195,962 49,447 6,561 13,718
1968 1,191,930 43,593 7,668 13,465
1967 1,258,475 29,632 7,825 14,177
1966 682,072 68,934 8,677 13,465
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 8,384 13,218
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 12,100 13,010
1963 987,770 -100,742 11,055 12,308
1962 901,864 -57,075 11,562 12,344
1961 893,522 -58,882 14,207 12,364
1960 894,874 -150,371 14,211 11,420

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/latvia | 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 Latvia 82.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 220,471 people or 11.8% in Latvia.

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
Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K

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/latvia | 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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