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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 3.35 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 1.92% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Japan vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Malaysia
2100 76,995,942 44,342,183
2099 77,380,486 44,456,013
2098 77,759,557 44,568,480
2097 78,135,569 44,684,459
2096 78,515,892 44,803,334
2095 78,892,606 44,920,823
2094 79,267,768 45,035,868
2093 79,645,584 45,153,485
2092 80,025,578 45,267,003
2091 80,401,222 45,378,303
2090 80,778,500 45,489,767
2089 81,158,413 45,598,290
2088 81,539,639 45,706,098
2087 81,926,401 45,811,274
2086 82,322,612 45,914,874
2085 82,727,738 46,008,880
2084 83,141,354 46,099,604
2083 83,562,394 46,190,377
2082 83,998,809 46,272,999
2081 84,447,888 46,347,751
2080 84,918,455 46,423,514
2079 85,406,042 46,484,118
2078 85,916,840 46,537,169
2077 86,453,316 46,582,178
2076 87,012,155 46,607,029
2075 87,597,053 46,631,092
2074 88,209,803 46,646,324
2073 88,854,316 46,658,819
2072 89,519,055 46,658,396
2071 90,204,314 46,648,409
2070 90,919,143 46,633,600
2069 91,645,589 46,611,221
2068 92,388,299 46,588,049
2067 93,133,993 46,557,261
2066 93,889,902 46,518,384
2065 94,654,259 46,469,909
2064 95,412,429 46,405,405
2063 96,169,244 46,338,727
2062 96,924,236 46,260,178
2061 97,675,525 46,166,190
2060 98,422,553 46,064,001
2059 99,166,038 45,946,872
2058 99,890,950 45,825,593
2057 100,607,740 45,695,432
2056 101,318,164 45,554,612
2055 102,012,184 45,407,246
2054 102,706,063 45,241,331
2053 103,381,833 45,057,472
2052 104,059,800 44,862,361
2051 104,729,745 44,657,253
2050 105,400,477 44,434,221
2049 106,076,354 44,206,196
2048 106,754,699 43,963,591
2047 107,442,881 43,701,058
2046 108,139,155 43,427,087
2045 108,844,934 43,146,785
2044 109,553,441 42,855,667
2043 110,269,851 42,546,972
2042 110,992,599 42,229,093
2041 111,729,216 41,911,573
2040 112,463,507 41,587,509
2039 113,200,859 41,260,315
2038 113,940,856 40,918,517
2037 114,687,611 40,574,312
2036 115,436,359 40,223,758
2035 116,187,949 39,866,097
2034 116,936,734 39,505,672
2033 117,678,572 39,141,994
2032 118,419,247 38,762,420
2031 119,153,646 38,376,399
2030 119,882,512 37,985,824
2029 120,600,781 37,597,060
2028 121,314,239 37,198,261
2027 122,015,984 36,797,098
2026 122,704,252 36,393,693
2025 123,366,734 35,977,838
2024 123,975,371 35,557,673
2023 124,516,650 35,126,298
2022 125,124,989 34,695,493
2021 125,681,593 34,282,399
2020 126,261,000 33,889,558
2019 126,633,000 33,440,596
2018 126,811,000 32,910,967
2017 126,972,000 32,355,644
2016 127,076,000 31,789,685
2015 127,141,000 31,232,798
2014 127,276,000 30,696,137
2013 127,445,000 30,174,265
2012 127,629,000 29,662,831
2011 127,833,000 29,162,039
2010 128,070,000 28,655,776
2009 128,047,000 28,124,778
2008 128,063,000 27,570,059
2007 128,001,000 26,998,389
2006 127,854,000 26,417,909
2005 127,773,000 25,836,071
2004 127,761,000 25,256,772
2003 127,718,000 24,679,602
2002 127,445,000 24,102,477
2001 127,149,000 23,526,538
2000 126,843,000 22,967,816
1999 126,631,000 22,435,531
1998 126,400,000 21,906,713
1997 126,057,000 21,375,218
1996 125,757,000 20,850,087
1995 125,472,000 20,330,599
1994 125,178,000 19,820,446
1993 124,829,000 19,322,664
1992 124,425,000 18,834,572
1991 123,964,000 18,342,464
1990 123,478,000 17,833,171
1989 123,069,000 17,314,997
1988 122,578,000 16,796,605
1987 122,069,000 16,276,737
1986 121,482,000 15,760,419
1985 120,837,000 15,252,258
1984 120,083,000 14,759,009
1983 119,307,000 14,285,907
1982 118,480,000 13,832,798
1981 117,661,000 13,399,203
1980 116,807,000 12,983,363
1979 115,890,000 12,627,862
1978 114,913,000 12,328,157
1977 113,872,000 12,035,713
1976 112,775,000 11,750,097
1975 111,573,000 11,471,914
1974 110,162,000 11,200,906
1973 108,707,000 10,935,621
1972 107,188,000 10,676,835
1971 105,697,000 10,423,453
1970 103,403,000 10,178,802
1969 102,219,000 9,947,597
1968 101,011,000 9,725,281
1967 99,879,000 9,507,099
1966 98,851,000 9,284,688
1965 97,952,000 9,056,408
1964 96,903,000 8,828,406
1963 95,900,000 8,602,160
1962 94,933,000 8,380,172
1961 94,055,000 8,164,443
1960 93,216,000 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M 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
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Malaysia
2100 -0.5% -0.26%
2099 -0.49% -0.25%
2098 -0.48% -0.26%
2097 -0.48% -0.27%
2096 -0.48% -0.26%
2095 -0.47% -0.26%
2094 -0.47% -0.26%
2093 -0.47% -0.25%
2092 -0.47% -0.25%
2091 -0.47% -0.25%
2090 -0.47% -0.24%
2089 -0.47% -0.24%
2088 -0.47% -0.23%
2087 -0.48% -0.23%
2086 -0.49% -0.2%
2085 -0.5% -0.2%
2084 -0.5% -0.2%
2083 -0.52% -0.18%
2082 -0.53% -0.16%
2081 -0.55% -0.16%
2080 -0.57% -0.13%
2079 -0.59% -0.11%
2078 -0.62% -0.1%
2077 -0.64% -0.05%
2076 -0.67% -0.05%
2075 -0.69% -0.03%
2074 -0.73% -0.03%
2073 -0.74% 0.001%
2072 -0.76% 0.02%
2071 -0.79% 0.03%
2070 -0.79% 0.05%
2069 -0.8% 0.05%
2068 -0.8% 0.07%
2067 -0.81% 0.08%
2066 -0.81% 0.1%
2065 -0.79% 0.14%
2064 -0.79% 0.14%
2063 -0.78% 0.17%
2062 -0.77% 0.2%
2061 -0.76% 0.22%
2060 -0.75% 0.25%
2059 -0.73% 0.26%
2058 -0.71% 0.28%
2057 -0.7% 0.31%
2056 -0.68% 0.32%
2055 -0.68% 0.37%
2054 -0.65% 0.41%
2053 -0.65% 0.43%
2052 -0.64% 0.46%
2051 -0.64% 0.5%
2050 -0.64% 0.52%
2049 -0.64% 0.55%
2048 -0.64% 0.6%
2047 -0.64% 0.63%
2046 -0.65% 0.65%
2045 -0.65% 0.68%
2044 -0.65% 0.73%
2043 -0.65% 0.75%
2042 -0.66% 0.76%
2041 -0.65% 0.78%
2040 -0.65% 0.79%
2039 -0.65% 0.84%
2038 -0.65% 0.85%
2037 -0.65% 0.87%
2036 -0.65% 0.9%
2035 -0.64% 0.91%
2034 -0.63% 0.93%
2033 -0.63% 0.98%
2032 -0.62% 1.01%
2031 -0.61% 1.03%
2030 -0.6% 1.03%
2029 -0.59% 1.07%
2028 -0.58% 1.09%
2027 -0.56% 1.11%
2026 -0.54% 1.16%
2025 -0.49% 1.18%
2024 -0.43% 1.23%
2023 -0.49% 1.24%
2022 -0.44% 1.2%
2021 -0.46% 1.16%
2020 -0.29% 1.34%
2019 -0.14% 1.61%
2018 -0.13% 1.72%
2017 -0.08% 1.78%
2016 -0.05% 1.78%
2015 -0.11% 1.75%
2014 -0.13% 1.73%
2013 -0.14% 1.72%
2012 -0.16% 1.72%
2011 -0.19% 1.77%
2010 0.02% 1.89%
2009 -0.01% 2.01%
2008 0.05% 2.12%
2007 0.11% 2.2%
2006 0.06% 2.25%
2005 0.009% 2.29%
2004 0.03% 2.34%
2003 0.21% 2.39%
2002 0.23% 2.45%
2001 0.24% 2.43%
2000 0.17% 2.37%
1999 0.18% 2.41%
1998 0.27% 2.49%
1997 0.24% 2.52%
1996 0.23% 2.56%
1995 0.23% 2.57%
1994 0.28% 2.58%
1993 0.32% 2.59%
1992 0.37% 2.68%
1991 0.39% 2.86%
1990 0.33% 2.99%
1989 0.4% 3.09%
1988 0.42% 3.19%
1987 0.48% 3.28%
1986 0.53% 3.33%
1985 0.63% 3.34%
1984 0.65% 3.31%
1983 0.7% 3.28%
1982 0.7% 3.24%
1981 0.73% 3.2%
1980 0.79% 2.82%
1979 0.85% 2.43%
1978 0.91% 2.43%
1977 0.97% 2.43%
1976 1.08% 2.42%
1975 1.28% 2.42%
1974 1.34% 2.43%
1973 1.42% 2.42%
1972 1.41% 2.43%
1971 2.22% 2.4%
1970 1.16% 2.32%
1969 1.2% 2.29%
1968 1.13% 2.29%
1967 1.04% 2.4%
1966 0.92% 2.52%
1965 1.08% 2.58%
1964 1.05% 2.63%
1963 1.02% 2.65%
1962 0.93% 2.64%
1961 0.9% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Japan Malaysia
Current population
122704252
36600906
Population rank 12/197 45/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.44%
One net population change
52 seconds
1.25 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
1.2 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +1,151
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 89/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +166,615
Net migration rank 10/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 166,615
2024 -942,213 153,357 252,068 174,770
2023 -871,617 175,003 254,806 181,071
2022 -825,825 175,003 237,560 188,154
2021 -640,976 -34,996 212,002 188,506
2020 -542,923 42,001 283,282 101,907
2019 -531,858 318,190 309,426 203,284
2018 -456,520 320,601 324,568 221,965
2017 -406,310 322,564 336,434 227,677
2016 -343,106 314,732 345,681 222,141
2015 -292,424 168,896 358,302 187,663
2014 -267,279 58,109 367,587 159,791
2013 -242,146 66,449 366,738 149,637
2012 -229,733 67,904 371,497 134,975
2011 -204,533 97,720 372,836 122,269
2010 -128,070 131,860 360,260 157,164
2009 -76,828 125,450 366,157 178,410
2008 -51,225 142,605 362,380 202,481
2007 -25,600 138,024 348,711 229,784
2006 12,785 130,065 349,509 232,971
2005 -25,554 113,017 355,324 225,864
2004 76,656 69,014 365,138 212,278
2003 114,946 74,875 377,425 199,510
2002 178,423 60,864 381,084 196,227
2001 203,438 59,563 400,939 173,613
2000 228,317 23,468 417,371 125,499
1999 202,610 56,901 432,355 89,335
1998 265,440 45,912 436,316 99,639
1997 277,325 43,366 447,768 79,266
1996 314,392 25,030 450,174 73,040
1995 276,039 87,714 443,349 72,393
1994 363,017 154,214 437,873 66,685
1993 312,073 168,836 429,910 61,079
1992 360,833 170,878 418,900 66,286
1991 396,685 161,331 401,938 97,111
1990 407,478 124,582 384,518 135,020
1989 467,662 31,202 373,277 143,544
1988 527,085 51,154 386,507 133,478
1987 598,138 28,001 381,999 137,759
1986 631,706 27,987 385,799 127,081
1985 676,687 -141,323 383,243 120,215
1984 756,523 -273,686 376,797 106,248
1983 775,495 -269,755 365,290 97,862
1982 805,664 -288,550 353,138 89,942
1981 811,861 -278,525 339,991 84,142
1980 864,372 -92,314 326,947 80,617
1979 950,298 -57,692 317,439 -13,980
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 311,027 -15,059
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 305,515 -16,601
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 300,615 -18,316
1975 1,204,989 107 294,541 -20,480
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 289,880 -21,919
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 284,611 -21,995
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 276,263 -21,305
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 272,323 -20,535
1970 1,230,496 33,731 269,341 -31,839
1969 1,195,962 49,447 264,327 -39,420
1968 1,191,930 43,593 260,705 -40,996
1967 1,258,475 29,632 258,764 -42,108
1966 682,072 68,934 262,162 -33,993
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 264,836 -36,456
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 266,406 -38,785
1963 987,770 -100,742 265,815 -40,952
1962 901,864 -57,075 262,140 -43,033
1961 893,522 -58,882 257,270 -44,916
1960 894,874 -150,371 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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

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