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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 2,360,527 people in Moldova in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 2,328,600 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 52.7 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs -1.72% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.33M (19.2% decline).

Japan vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Moldova
2100 76,995,942 1,169,570
2099 77,380,486 1,180,272
2098 77,759,557 1,191,113
2097 78,135,569 1,201,972
2096 78,515,892 1,212,932
2095 78,892,606 1,223,967
2094 79,267,768 1,234,876
2093 79,645,584 1,245,808
2092 80,025,578 1,256,689
2091 80,401,222 1,267,532
2090 80,778,500 1,278,123
2089 81,158,413 1,288,741
2088 81,539,639 1,299,412
2087 81,926,401 1,309,994
2086 82,322,612 1,320,672
2085 82,727,738 1,331,516
2084 83,141,354 1,342,188
2083 83,562,394 1,353,031
2082 83,998,809 1,363,961
2081 84,447,888 1,375,027
2080 84,918,455 1,386,252
2079 85,406,042 1,397,755
2078 85,916,840 1,409,455
2077 86,453,316 1,421,568
2076 87,012,155 1,433,504
2075 87,597,053 1,445,874
2074 88,209,803 1,458,696
2073 88,854,316 1,471,729
2072 89,519,055 1,485,296
2071 90,204,314 1,499,224
2070 90,919,143 1,513,979
2069 91,645,589 1,528,841
2068 92,388,299 1,544,390
2067 93,133,993 1,560,256
2066 93,889,902 1,576,276
2065 94,654,259 1,592,761
2064 95,412,429 1,609,631
2063 96,169,244 1,626,510
2062 96,924,236 1,643,849
2061 97,675,525 1,661,290
2060 98,422,553 1,679,059
2059 99,166,038 1,696,440
2058 99,890,950 1,713,694
2057 100,607,740 1,730,910
2056 101,318,164 1,748,393
2055 102,012,184 1,765,554
2054 102,706,063 1,782,642
2053 103,381,833 1,799,510
2052 104,059,800 1,816,030
2051 104,729,745 1,832,448
2050 105,400,477 1,848,307
2049 106,076,354 1,864,603
2048 106,754,699 1,880,438
2047 107,442,881 1,896,381
2046 108,139,155 1,912,640
2045 108,844,934 1,929,525
2044 109,553,441 1,946,354
2043 110,269,851 1,964,017
2042 110,992,599 1,982,068
2041 111,729,216 2,000,545
2040 112,463,507 2,019,832
2039 113,200,859 2,040,153
2038 113,940,856 2,060,750
2037 114,687,611 2,081,833
2036 115,436,359 2,103,318
2035 116,187,949 2,125,527
2034 116,936,734 2,147,859
2033 117,678,572 2,170,311
2032 118,419,247 2,192,598
2031 119,153,646 2,215,052
2030 119,882,512 2,237,961
2029 120,600,781 2,260,762
2028 121,314,239 2,283,416
2027 122,015,984 2,305,981
2026 122,704,252 2,328,600
2025 123,366,734 2,360,527
2024 123,975,371 2,402,306
2023 124,516,650 2,457,783
2022 125,124,989 2,528,654
2021 125,681,593 2,595,809
2020 126,261,000 2,635,130
2019 126,633,000 2,664,224
2018 126,811,000 2,707,203
2017 126,972,000 2,755,189
2016 127,076,000 2,803,186
2015 127,141,000 2,835,978
2014 127,276,000 2,857,815
2013 127,445,000 2,859,558
2012 127,629,000 2,860,324
2011 127,833,000 2,860,699
2010 128,070,000 2,862,354
2009 128,047,000 2,865,213
2008 128,063,000 2,868,833
2007 128,001,000 2,874,299
2006 127,854,000 2,880,967
2005 127,773,000 2,888,985
2004 127,761,000 2,896,023
2003 127,718,000 2,903,198
2002 127,445,000 2,911,385
2001 127,149,000 2,918,135
2000 126,843,000 2,924,668
1999 126,631,000 2,930,622
1998 126,400,000 2,935,227
1997 126,057,000 2,936,413
1996 125,757,000 2,947,293
1995 125,472,000 2,953,200
1994 125,178,000 2,966,745
1993 124,829,000 2,975,966
1992 124,425,000 2,980,965
1991 123,964,000 2,981,566
1990 123,478,000 2,977,912
1989 123,069,000 2,970,039
1988 122,578,000 2,948,891
1987 122,069,000 2,916,306
1986 121,482,000 2,883,057
1985 120,837,000 2,850,787
1984 120,083,000 2,820,518
1983 119,307,000 2,791,207
1982 118,480,000 2,763,101
1981 117,661,000 2,735,987
1980 116,807,000 2,708,675
1979 115,890,000 2,683,035
1978 114,913,000 2,656,211
1977 113,872,000 2,626,298
1976 112,775,000 2,596,491
1975 111,573,000 2,566,998
1974 110,162,000 2,538,164
1973 108,707,000 2,510,584
1972 107,188,000 2,484,742
1971 105,697,000 2,460,611
1970 103,403,000 2,437,590
1969 102,219,000 2,408,469
1968 101,011,000 2,373,073
1967 99,879,000 2,337,695
1966 98,851,000 2,301,871
1965 97,952,000 2,265,287
1964 96,903,000 2,228,000
1963 95,900,000 2,188,895
1962 94,933,000 2,147,227
1961 94,055,000 2,103,327
1960 93,216,000 2,058,020

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/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Moldova's population decreased by 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th 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 Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 29.1% of the population in Japan and 38.4% in Moldova.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Moldova
2100 -0.5% -0.91%
2099 -0.49% -0.91%
2098 -0.48% -0.9%
2097 -0.48% -0.9%
2096 -0.48% -0.9%
2095 -0.47% -0.88%
2094 -0.47% -0.88%
2093 -0.47% -0.87%
2092 -0.47% -0.86%
2091 -0.47% -0.83%
2090 -0.47% -0.82%
2089 -0.47% -0.82%
2088 -0.47% -0.81%
2087 -0.48% -0.81%
2086 -0.49% -0.81%
2085 -0.5% -0.8%
2084 -0.5% -0.8%
2083 -0.52% -0.8%
2082 -0.53% -0.8%
2081 -0.55% -0.81%
2080 -0.57% -0.82%
2079 -0.59% -0.83%
2078 -0.62% -0.85%
2077 -0.64% -0.83%
2076 -0.67% -0.86%
2075 -0.69% -0.88%
2074 -0.73% -0.89%
2073 -0.74% -0.91%
2072 -0.76% -0.93%
2071 -0.79% -0.97%
2070 -0.79% -0.97%
2069 -0.8% -1.01%
2068 -0.8% -1.02%
2067 -0.81% -1.02%
2066 -0.81% -1.03%
2065 -0.79% -1.05%
2064 -0.79% -1.04%
2063 -0.78% -1.05%
2062 -0.77% -1.05%
2061 -0.76% -1.06%
2060 -0.75% -1.02%
2059 -0.73% -1.01%
2058 -0.71% -0.99%
2057 -0.7% -1%
2056 -0.68% -0.97%
2055 -0.68% -0.96%
2054 -0.65% -0.94%
2053 -0.65% -0.91%
2052 -0.64% -0.9%
2051 -0.64% -0.86%
2050 -0.64% -0.87%
2049 -0.64% -0.84%
2048 -0.64% -0.84%
2047 -0.64% -0.85%
2046 -0.65% -0.88%
2045 -0.65% -0.86%
2044 -0.65% -0.9%
2043 -0.65% -0.91%
2042 -0.66% -0.92%
2041 -0.65% -0.95%
2040 -0.65% -1%
2039 -0.65% -1%
2038 -0.65% -1.01%
2037 -0.65% -1.02%
2036 -0.65% -1.04%
2035 -0.64% -1.04%
2034 -0.63% -1.03%
2033 -0.63% -1.02%
2032 -0.62% -1.01%
2031 -0.61% -1.02%
2030 -0.6% -1.01%
2029 -0.59% -0.99%
2028 -0.58% -0.98%
2027 -0.56% -0.97%
2026 -0.54% -1.35%
2025 -0.49% -1.74%
2024 -0.43% -2.26%
2023 -0.49% -2.8%
2022 -0.44% -2.59%
2021 -0.46% -1.49%
2020 -0.29% -1.09%
2019 -0.14% -1.59%
2018 -0.13% -1.74%
2017 -0.08% -1.71%
2016 -0.05% -1.16%
2015 -0.11% -0.76%
2014 -0.13% -0.06%
2013 -0.14% -0.03%
2012 -0.16% -0.01%
2011 -0.19% -0.06%
2010 0.02% -0.1%
2009 -0.01% -0.13%
2008 0.05% -0.19%
2007 0.11% -0.23%
2006 0.06% -0.28%
2005 0.009% -0.24%
2004 0.03% -0.25%
2003 0.21% -0.28%
2002 0.23% -0.23%
2001 0.24% -0.22%
2000 0.17% -0.2%
1999 0.18% -0.16%
1998 0.27% -0.04%
1997 0.24% -0.37%
1996 0.23% -0.2%
1995 0.23% -0.46%
1994 0.28% -0.31%
1993 0.32% -0.17%
1992 0.37% -0.02%
1991 0.39% 0.12%
1990 0.33% 0.27%
1989 0.4% 0.72%
1988 0.42% 1.12%
1987 0.48% 1.15%
1986 0.53% 1.13%
1985 0.63% 1.07%
1984 0.65% 1.05%
1983 0.7% 1.02%
1982 0.7% 0.99%
1981 0.73% 1.01%
1980 0.79% 0.96%
1979 0.85% 1.01%
1978 0.91% 1.14%
1977 0.97% 1.15%
1976 1.08% 1.15%
1975 1.28% 1.14%
1974 1.34% 1.1%
1973 1.42% 1.04%
1972 1.41% 0.98%
1971 2.22% 0.94%
1970 1.16% 1.21%
1969 1.2% 1.49%
1968 1.13% 1.51%
1967 1.04% 1.56%
1966 0.92% 1.61%
1965 1.08% 1.67%
1964 1.05% 1.79%
1963 1.02% 1.94%
1962 0.93% 2.09%
1961 0.9% 2.2%

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/moldova | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Moldova's population declined by 1.74%.

Live population counters

Japan Moldova
Current population
122704252
2328600
Population rank 12/197 145/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.03%
One net population change
52 seconds
12.6 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
20.7 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
15.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 -114
Annual growth/decline -608,637 -41,779
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% -1.74%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 196/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -29,766
Net migration rank 10/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -29,766
2024 -942,213 153,357 -7,767 -27,088
2023 -871,617 175,003 -7,007 -18,570
2022 -825,825 175,003 -6,385 89,154
2021 -640,976 -34,996 -13,444 -33,405
2020 -542,923 42,001 -7,067 -33,405
2019 -531,858 318,190 -3,416 -41,233
2018 -456,520 320,601 -961 -36,085
2017 -406,310 322,564 1,402 -43,871
2016 -343,106 314,732 4,580 -51,642
2015 -292,424 168,896 6,049 -59,399
2014 -267,279 58,109 7,248 -67,175
2013 -242,146 66,449 3,537 -77,571
2012 -229,733 67,904 5,581 -81,215
2011 -204,533 97,720 5,948 -82,271
2010 -128,070 131,860 7,456 -84,039
2009 -76,828 125,450 7,492 -83,546
2008 -51,225 142,605 5,210 -79,593
2007 -25,600 138,024 3,490 -75,734
2006 12,785 130,065 2,406 -72,061
2005 -25,554 113,017 2,005 -68,681
2004 76,656 69,014 1,714 -52,491
2003 114,946 74,875 -322 -46,947
2002 178,423 60,864 -1,249 -45,833
2001 203,438 59,563 -718 -45,043
2000 228,317 23,468 -324 -43,854
1999 202,610 56,901 642 -43,111
1998 265,440 45,912 2,140 -41,975
1997 277,325 43,366 4,669 -41,743
1996 314,392 25,030 2,655 -33,369
1995 276,039 87,714 5,534 -31,975
1994 363,017 154,214 9,921 -31,616
1993 312,073 168,836 13,886 -31,526
1992 360,833 170,878 17,373 -30,136
1991 396,685 161,331 21,127 -29,204
1990 407,478 124,582 25,824 -30,053
1989 467,662 31,202 29,638 -29,307
1988 527,085 51,154 35,608 -4,989
1987 598,138 28,001 40,122 -10,796
1986 631,706 27,987 39,463 -8,769
1985 676,687 -141,323 38,060 -10,627
1984 756,523 -273,686 38,108 -12,732
1983 775,495 -269,755 36,076 -10,543
1982 805,664 -288,550 32,814 -8,412
1981 811,861 -278,525 31,360 -6,452
1980 864,372 -92,314 30,053 -3,693
1979 950,298 -57,692 28,322 -6,912
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 27,622 3,483
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 27,707 3,245
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 27,801 2,885
1975 1,204,989 107 27,677 2,355
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 27,219 1,785
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 25,967 1,156
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 24,626 481
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 23,359 -61
1970 1,230,496 33,731 22,314 606
1969 1,195,962 49,447 21,768 20,561
1968 1,191,930 43,593 22,005 19,830
1967 1,258,475 29,632 22,654 19,175
1966 682,072 68,934 23,720 18,601
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 24,916 18,066
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 25,860 17,509
1963 987,770 -100,742 29,382 16,816
1962 901,864 -57,075 32,082 15,884
1961 893,522 -58,882 35,180 14,818
1960 894,874 -150,371 36,352 13,697

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/moldova | 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 Moldova 11.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

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
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

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/moldova | 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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