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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 5,731,206 people in Liberia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 5,916,561 in Liberia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 20.7 times bigger than Liberia's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Liberia is the 116th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.07% for Liberia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.09% in Liberia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Liberia has grown from 3.49M to 5.92M (69.5% growth).

Japan vs Liberia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Liberia
2100 76,995,942 12,784,957
2099 77,380,486 12,772,345
2098 77,759,557 12,753,452
2097 78,135,569 12,724,773
2096 78,515,892 12,692,036
2095 78,892,606 12,667,207
2094 79,267,768 12,641,522
2093 79,645,584 12,603,995
2092 80,025,578 12,579,473
2091 80,401,222 12,554,066
2090 80,778,500 12,509,480
2089 81,158,413 12,457,316
2088 81,539,639 12,425,766
2087 81,926,401 12,390,938
2086 82,322,612 12,328,007
2085 82,727,738 12,262,605
2084 83,141,354 12,214,581
2083 83,562,394 12,160,106
2082 83,998,809 12,118,849
2081 84,447,888 12,051,465
2080 84,918,455 11,973,445
2079 85,406,042 11,895,628
2078 85,916,840 11,820,198
2077 86,453,316 11,742,459
2076 87,012,155 11,653,806
2075 87,597,053 11,568,384
2074 88,209,803 11,466,229
2073 88,854,316 11,370,364
2072 89,519,055 11,284,839
2071 90,204,314 11,184,212
2070 90,919,143 11,094,537
2069 91,645,589 10,998,944
2068 92,388,299 10,915,300
2067 93,133,993 10,810,752
2066 93,889,902 10,718,452
2065 94,654,259 10,614,227
2064 95,412,429 10,517,857
2063 96,169,244 10,413,073
2062 96,924,236 10,305,739
2061 97,675,525 10,197,474
2060 98,422,553 10,088,502
2059 99,166,038 9,957,059
2058 99,890,950 9,854,358
2057 100,607,740 9,742,349
2056 101,318,164 9,621,132
2055 102,012,184 9,503,970
2054 102,706,063 9,399,455
2053 103,381,833 9,282,047
2052 104,059,800 9,170,319
2051 104,729,745 9,057,504
2050 105,400,477 8,948,808
2049 106,076,354 8,825,716
2048 106,754,699 8,702,515
2047 107,442,881 8,579,329
2046 108,139,155 8,453,730
2045 108,844,934 8,340,339
2044 109,553,441 8,218,270
2043 110,269,851 8,103,979
2042 110,992,599 7,969,742
2041 111,729,216 7,826,944
2040 112,463,507 7,696,136
2039 113,200,859 7,551,738
2038 113,940,856 7,419,716
2037 114,687,611 7,289,124
2036 115,436,359 7,144,012
2035 116,187,949 7,008,708
2034 116,936,734 6,881,558
2033 117,678,572 6,748,513
2032 118,419,247 6,617,506
2031 119,153,646 6,490,837
2030 119,882,512 6,374,102
2029 120,600,781 6,245,907
2028 121,314,239 6,118,823
2027 122,015,984 5,979,243
2026 122,704,252 5,850,359
2025 123,366,734 5,731,206
2024 123,975,371 5,612,817
2023 124,516,650 5,493,031
2022 125,124,989 5,373,294
2021 125,681,593 5,259,323
2020 126,261,000 5,149,463
2019 126,633,000 5,043,721
2018 126,811,000 4,944,726
2017 126,972,000 4,848,925
2016 127,076,000 4,755,608
2015 127,141,000 4,659,431
2014 127,276,000 4,564,293
2013 127,445,000 4,470,239
2012 127,629,000 4,373,043
2011 127,833,000 4,221,178
2010 128,070,000 4,058,890
2009 128,047,000 3,943,028
2008 128,063,000 3,821,003
2007 128,001,000 3,669,050
2006 127,854,000 3,490,787
2005 127,773,000 3,301,015
2004 127,761,000 3,156,892
2003 127,718,000 3,119,532
2002 127,445,000 3,094,782
2001 127,149,000 3,015,338
2000 126,843,000 2,928,117
1999 126,631,000 2,821,684
1998 126,400,000 2,670,124
1997 126,057,000 2,412,989
1996 125,757,000 2,232,289
1995 125,472,000 2,169,162
1994 125,178,000 2,149,928
1993 124,829,000 2,155,126
1992 124,425,000 2,072,461
1991 123,964,000 1,956,518
1990 123,478,000 2,223,667
1989 123,069,000 2,517,858
1988 122,578,000 2,446,941
1987 122,069,000 2,377,229
1986 121,482,000 2,308,511
1985 120,837,000 2,240,539
1984 120,083,000 2,173,312
1983 119,307,000 2,107,113
1982 118,480,000 2,045,073
1981 117,661,000 1,986,867
1980 116,807,000 1,929,253
1979 115,890,000 1,872,713
1978 114,913,000 1,818,247
1977 113,872,000 1,766,019
1976 112,775,000 1,717,060
1975 111,573,000 1,670,913
1974 110,162,000 1,626,362
1973 108,707,000 1,583,588
1972 107,188,000 1,542,670
1971 105,697,000 1,504,077
1970 103,403,000 1,466,676
1969 102,219,000 1,429,605
1968 101,011,000 1,393,530
1967 99,879,000 1,358,435
1966 98,851,000 1,324,383
1965 97,952,000 1,291,156
1964 96,903,000 1,258,745
1963 95,900,000 1,227,414
1962 94,933,000 1,197,039
1961 94,055,000 1,167,717
1960 93,216,000 1,139,522

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/liberia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Liberia gained 1,264,821 people (a 36.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Liberia's population increased by 1,160,953 people (a 24.4% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Liberia was ranked 126th in 2006 and ranked 116th 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 Liberia will increase by 51.3% to 8,948,808 people and rank change from 116th to 107th.

Liberia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 12.8M 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
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Liberia
2100 -0.5% 0.1%
2099 -0.49% 0.15%
2098 -0.48% 0.23%
2097 -0.48% 0.26%
2096 -0.48% 0.2%
2095 -0.47% 0.2%
2094 -0.47% 0.3%
2093 -0.47% 0.19%
2092 -0.47% 0.2%
2091 -0.47% 0.36%
2090 -0.47% 0.42%
2089 -0.47% 0.25%
2088 -0.47% 0.28%
2087 -0.48% 0.51%
2086 -0.49% 0.53%
2085 -0.5% 0.39%
2084 -0.5% 0.45%
2083 -0.52% 0.34%
2082 -0.53% 0.56%
2081 -0.55% 0.65%
2080 -0.57% 0.65%
2079 -0.59% 0.64%
2078 -0.62% 0.66%
2077 -0.64% 0.76%
2076 -0.67% 0.74%
2075 -0.69% 0.89%
2074 -0.73% 0.84%
2073 -0.74% 0.76%
2072 -0.76% 0.9%
2071 -0.79% 0.81%
2070 -0.79% 0.87%
2069 -0.8% 0.77%
2068 -0.8% 0.97%
2067 -0.81% 0.86%
2066 -0.81% 0.98%
2065 -0.79% 0.92%
2064 -0.79% 1.01%
2063 -0.78% 1.04%
2062 -0.77% 1.06%
2061 -0.76% 1.08%
2060 -0.75% 1.32%
2059 -0.73% 1.04%
2058 -0.71% 1.15%
2057 -0.7% 1.26%
2056 -0.68% 1.23%
2055 -0.68% 1.11%
2054 -0.65% 1.26%
2053 -0.65% 1.22%
2052 -0.64% 1.25%
2051 -0.64% 1.21%
2050 -0.64% 1.39%
2049 -0.64% 1.42%
2048 -0.64% 1.44%
2047 -0.64% 1.49%
2046 -0.65% 1.36%
2045 -0.65% 1.49%
2044 -0.65% 1.41%
2043 -0.65% 1.68%
2042 -0.66% 1.82%
2041 -0.65% 1.7%
2040 -0.65% 1.91%
2039 -0.65% 1.78%
2038 -0.65% 1.79%
2037 -0.65% 2.03%
2036 -0.65% 1.93%
2035 -0.64% 1.85%
2034 -0.63% 1.97%
2033 -0.63% 1.98%
2032 -0.62% 1.95%
2031 -0.61% 1.83%
2030 -0.6% 2.05%
2029 -0.59% 2.08%
2028 -0.58% 2.33%
2027 -0.56% 2.2%
2026 -0.54% 2.08%
2025 -0.49% 2.11%
2024 -0.43% 2.18%
2023 -0.49% 2.23%
2022 -0.44% 2.17%
2021 -0.46% 2.13%
2020 -0.29% 2.1%
2019 -0.14% 2%
2018 -0.13% 1.98%
2017 -0.08% 1.96%
2016 -0.05% 2.06%
2015 -0.11% 2.08%
2014 -0.13% 2.1%
2013 -0.14% 2.22%
2012 -0.16% 3.6%
2011 -0.19% 4%
2010 0.02% 2.94%
2009 -0.01% 3.19%
2008 0.05% 4.14%
2007 0.11% 5.11%
2006 0.06% 5.75%
2005 0.009% 4.57%
2004 0.03% 1.2%
2003 0.21% 0.8%
2002 0.23% 2.63%
2001 0.24% 2.98%
2000 0.17% 3.77%
1999 0.18% 5.68%
1998 0.27% 10.7%
1997 0.24% 8.09%
1996 0.23% 2.91%
1995 0.23% 0.89%
1994 0.28% -0.24%
1993 0.32% 3.99%
1992 0.37% 5.93%
1991 0.39% -12%
1990 0.33% -11.7%
1989 0.4% 2.9%
1988 0.42% 2.93%
1987 0.48% 2.98%
1986 0.53% 3.03%
1985 0.63% 3.09%
1984 0.65% 3.14%
1983 0.7% 3.03%
1982 0.7% 2.93%
1981 0.73% 2.99%
1980 0.79% 3.02%
1979 0.85% 3%
1978 0.91% 2.96%
1977 0.97% 2.85%
1976 1.08% 2.76%
1975 1.28% 2.74%
1974 1.34% 2.7%
1973 1.42% 2.65%
1972 1.41% 2.57%
1971 2.22% 2.55%
1970 1.16% 2.59%
1969 1.2% 2.59%
1968 1.13% 2.58%
1967 1.04% 2.57%
1966 0.92% 2.57%
1965 1.08% 2.57%
1964 1.05% 2.55%
1963 1.02% 2.54%
1962 0.93% 2.51%
1961 0.9% 2.47%

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/liberia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Liberia's population grew by 2.11%.

Live population counters

Japan Liberia
Current population
122704252
5916561
Population rank 12/197 116/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.07%
One net population change
52 seconds
4.45 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
3.06 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
11.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +324
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +118,389
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.11%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 44/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
53.4 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -9,870
Net migration rank 10/196 132/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 72,423
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 142/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 1.3%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 148/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Liberia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Liberia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -9,870
2024 -942,213 153,357 126,631 -7,779
2023 -871,617 175,003 125,730 -5,002
2022 -825,825 175,003 123,747 -5,003
2021 -640,976 -34,996 121,038 -11,852
2020 -542,923 42,001 120,632 -10,107
2019 -531,858 318,190 120,635 -19,678
2018 -456,520 320,601 120,231 -23,199
2017 -406,310 322,564 119,376 -24,807
2016 -343,106 314,732 118,852 -26,796
2015 -292,424 168,896 115,479 -15,182
2014 -267,279 58,109 116,667 -26,690
2013 -242,146 66,449 120,138 -22,010
2012 -229,733 67,904 121,973 -25,710
2011 -204,533 97,720 115,496 91,981
2010 -128,070 131,860 114,249 2,850
2009 -76,828 125,450 113,429 1,187
2008 -51,225 142,605 112,032 17,404
2007 -25,600 138,024 109,165 65,306
2006 12,785 130,065 104,099 77,946
2005 -25,554 113,017 96,478 101,019
2004 76,656 69,014 91,755 -1,001
2003 114,946 74,875 87,534 -103,564
2002 178,423 60,864 88,643 -23,110
2001 203,438 59,563 86,217 7,142
2000 228,317 23,468 83,143 -2,060
1999 202,610 56,901 78,130 53,643
1998 265,440 45,912 72,146 99,203
1997 277,325 43,366 61,444 281,480
1996 314,392 25,030 56,392 -37,922
1995 276,039 87,714 53,407 54,372
1994 363,017 154,214 52,101 -121,407
1993 312,073 168,836 51,609 7,300
1992 360,833 170,878 50,204 56,210
1991 396,685 161,331 47,426 78,052
1990 407,478 124,582 52,770 -712,544
1989 467,662 31,202 63,238 8,156
1988 527,085 51,154 62,703 7,734
1987 598,138 28,001 62,147 6,840
1986 631,706 27,987 61,924 6,534
1985 676,687 -141,323 59,988 7,487
1984 756,523 -273,686 59,460 7,513
1983 775,495 -269,755 57,562 7,861
1982 805,664 -288,550 56,127 2,530
1981 811,861 -278,525 55,003 2,757
1980 864,372 -92,314 53,452 4,016
1979 950,298 -57,692 52,125 3,500
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 49,813 3,500
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 47,582 3,555
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 45,528 1,246
1975 1,204,989 107 43,478 2,037
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 41,499 2,086
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 39,694 2,272
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 37,860 2,018
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 36,015 1,293
1970 1,230,496 33,731 35,196 2,285
1969 1,195,962 49,447 34,677 1,982
1968 1,191,930 43,593 33,536 1,964
1967 1,258,475 29,632 32,519 2,177
1966 682,072 68,934 31,454 1,953
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 30,618 2,431
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 29,592 2,189
1963 987,770 -100,742 28,708 2,165
1962 901,864 -57,075 27,679 2,189
1961 893,522 -58,882 26,670 2,115
1960 894,874 -150,371 25,713 1,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/liberia | 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 Liberia 89% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,212,351 people) and 11% is from migration (a loss of 149,405 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 72,423 people or 1.3% in Liberia.

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
Liberia
City Population
Monrovia 1.02M
Sanniquellie 47.1K
Kakata 33.9K
Greenville 17.6K
Yekepa 11K

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

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