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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 3.36 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 -0.25% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Japan vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Malaysia
2100 76,978,998 44,353,615
2099 77,363,458 44,467,475
2098 77,742,445 44,579,971
2097 78,118,375 44,695,979
2096 78,498,614 44,814,885
2095 78,875,245 44,932,404
2094 79,250,325 45,047,479
2093 79,628,057 45,165,126
2092 80,007,967 45,278,674
2091 80,383,529 45,390,002
2090 80,760,724 45,501,495
2089 81,140,553 45,610,046
2088 81,521,696 45,717,882
2087 81,908,373 45,823,085
2086 82,304,497 45,926,712
2085 82,709,534 46,020,742
2084 83,123,058 46,111,490
2083 83,544,006 46,202,286
2082 83,980,325 46,284,929
2081 84,429,305 46,359,700
2080 84,899,768 46,435,482
2079 85,387,247 46,496,102
2078 85,897,934 46,549,167
2077 86,434,291 46,594,188
2076 86,993,007 46,619,045
2075 87,577,777 46,643,115
2074 88,190,392 46,658,350
2073 88,834,763 46,670,848
2072 89,499,356 46,670,426
2071 90,184,464 46,660,436
2070 90,899,136 46,645,623
2069 91,625,421 46,623,238
2068 92,367,969 46,600,060
2067 93,113,499 46,569,264
2066 93,869,240 46,530,377
2065 94,633,430 46,481,890
2064 95,391,433 46,417,369
2063 96,148,081 46,350,674
2062 96,902,907 46,272,105
2061 97,654,031 46,178,092
2060 98,400,894 46,075,877
2059 99,144,216 45,958,718
2058 99,868,968 45,837,407
2057 100,585,601 45,707,213
2056 101,295,868 45,566,357
2055 101,989,736 45,418,953
2054 102,683,462 45,252,995
2053 103,359,083 45,069,089
2052 104,036,901 44,873,927
2051 104,706,698 44,668,767
2050 105,377,283 44,445,677
2049 106,053,011 44,217,593
2048 106,731,207 43,974,925
2047 107,419,237 43,712,325
2046 108,115,358 43,438,283
2045 108,820,982 43,157,909
2044 109,529,333 42,866,716
2043 110,245,586 42,557,941
2042 110,968,174 42,239,980
2041 111,704,629 41,922,379
2040 112,438,759 41,598,231
2039 113,175,948 41,270,953
2038 113,915,783 40,929,067
2037 114,662,374 40,584,773
2036 115,410,956 40,234,128
2035 116,162,381 39,876,375
2034 116,911,001 39,515,857
2033 117,652,676 39,152,086
2032 118,393,188 38,772,414
2031 119,127,425 38,386,293
2030 119,856,131 37,995,617
2029 120,574,242 37,606,753
2028 121,287,543 37,207,852
2027 121,989,133 36,806,585
2026 122,677,250 36,403,076
2025 123,339,586 35,987,113
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% 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 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 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 -0.51% 1.21%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Japan Malaysia
Current population
122677250
36512221
Population rank 12/197 45/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.44%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +1,182
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 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 - 153,357 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 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 (1960–2024, 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/malaysia | 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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