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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 10,118 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).

Japan vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Nauru
2100 76,978,998 20,717
2099 77,363,458 20,686
2098 77,742,445 20,645
2097 78,118,375 20,605
2096 78,498,614 20,570
2095 78,875,245 20,535
2094 79,250,325 20,488
2093 79,628,057 20,432
2092 80,007,967 20,386
2091 80,383,529 20,341
2090 80,760,724 20,285
2089 81,140,553 20,219
2088 81,521,696 20,152
2087 81,908,373 20,096
2086 82,304,497 20,028
2085 82,709,534 19,959
2084 83,123,058 19,880
2083 83,544,006 19,796
2082 83,980,325 19,709
2081 84,429,305 19,611
2080 84,899,768 19,525
2079 85,387,247 19,420
2078 85,897,934 19,312
2077 86,434,291 19,206
2076 86,993,007 19,098
2075 87,577,777 18,986
2074 88,190,392 18,874
2073 88,834,763 18,758
2072 89,499,356 18,638
2071 90,184,464 18,535
2070 90,899,136 18,396
2069 91,625,421 18,289
2068 92,367,969 18,168
2067 93,113,499 18,025
2066 93,869,240 17,903
2065 94,633,430 17,777
2064 95,391,433 17,649
2063 96,148,081 17,524
2062 96,902,907 17,402
2061 97,654,031 17,267
2060 98,400,894 17,137
2059 99,144,216 17,013
2058 99,868,968 16,882
2057 100,585,601 16,752
2056 101,295,868 16,612
2055 101,989,736 16,472
2054 102,683,462 16,335
2053 103,359,083 16,193
2052 104,036,901 16,049
2051 104,706,698 15,888
2050 105,377,283 15,738
2049 106,053,011 15,572
2048 106,731,207 15,412
2047 107,419,237 15,241
2046 108,115,358 15,064
2045 108,820,982 14,895
2044 109,529,333 14,718
2043 110,245,586 14,546
2042 110,968,174 14,363
2041 111,704,629 14,180
2040 112,438,759 13,996
2039 113,175,948 13,827
2038 113,915,783 13,672
2037 114,662,374 13,513
2036 115,410,956 13,363
2035 116,162,381 13,196
2034 116,911,001 13,040
2033 117,652,676 12,894
2032 118,393,188 12,758
2031 119,127,425 12,625
2030 119,856,131 12,504
2029 120,574,242 12,386
2028 121,287,543 12,292
2027 121,989,133 12,182
2026 122,677,250 12,105
2025 123,339,586 12,030
2024 123,975,371 11,947
2023 124,516,650 11,875
2022 125,124,989 11,801
2021 125,681,593 11,709
2020 126,261,000 11,643
2019 126,633,000 11,587
2018 126,811,000 11,477
2017 126,972,000 11,324
2016 127,076,000 11,150
2015 127,141,000 10,954
2014 127,276,000 10,742
2013 127,445,000 10,517
2012 127,629,000 10,267
2011 127,833,000 10,098
2010 128,070,000 10,043
2009 128,047,000 10,016
2008 128,063,000 10,009
2007 128,001,000 10,020
2006 127,854,000 10,034
2005 127,773,000 10,049
2004 127,761,000 10,060
2003 127,718,000 10,059
2002 127,445,000 10,082
2001 127,149,000 10,130
2000 126,843,000 10,168
1999 126,631,000 10,187
1998 126,400,000 10,198
1997 126,057,000 10,197
1996 125,757,000 10,183
1995 125,472,000 10,165
1994 125,178,000 10,137
1993 124,829,000 10,102
1992 124,425,000 10,021
1991 123,964,000 9,850
1990 123,478,000 9,622
1989 123,069,000 9,390
1988 122,578,000 9,165
1987 122,069,000 8,946
1986 121,482,000 8,742
1985 120,837,000 8,551
1984 120,083,000 8,377
1983 119,307,000 8,216
1982 118,480,000 8,040
1981 117,661,000 7,839
1980 116,807,000 7,649
1979 115,890,000 7,468
1978 114,913,000 7,298
1977 113,872,000 7,163
1976 112,775,000 7,064
1975 111,573,000 6,987
1974 110,162,000 6,923
1973 108,707,000 6,866
1972 107,188,000 6,812
1971 105,697,000 6,762
1970 103,403,000 6,710
1969 102,219,000 6,581
1968 101,011,000 6,328
1967 99,879,000 6,135
1966 98,851,000 6,043
1965 97,952,000 5,832
1964 96,903,000 5,515
1963 95,900,000 5,226
1962 94,933,000 4,979
1961 94,055,000 4,774
1960 93,216,000 4,607

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/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.

Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K 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
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Nauru
2100 -0.5% 0.15%
2099 -0.49% 0.2%
2098 -0.48% 0.19%
2097 -0.48% 0.17%
2096 -0.48% 0.17%
2095 -0.47% 0.23%
2094 -0.47% 0.27%
2093 -0.47% 0.23%
2092 -0.47% 0.22%
2091 -0.47% 0.28%
2090 -0.47% 0.33%
2089 -0.47% 0.33%
2088 -0.47% 0.28%
2087 -0.48% 0.34%
2086 -0.49% 0.35%
2085 -0.5% 0.39%
2084 -0.5% 0.43%
2083 -0.52% 0.44%
2082 -0.53% 0.5%
2081 -0.55% 0.44%
2080 -0.57% 0.54%
2079 -0.59% 0.56%
2078 -0.62% 0.55%
2077 -0.64% 0.57%
2076 -0.67% 0.59%
2075 -0.69% 0.6%
2074 -0.73% 0.62%
2073 -0.74% 0.65%
2072 -0.76% 0.56%
2071 -0.79% 0.75%
2070 -0.79% 0.59%
2069 -0.8% 0.66%
2068 -0.8% 0.8%
2067 -0.81% 0.68%
2066 -0.81% 0.71%
2065 -0.79% 0.73%
2064 -0.79% 0.71%
2063 -0.78% 0.7%
2062 -0.77% 0.78%
2061 -0.76% 0.76%
2060 -0.75% 0.73%
2059 -0.73% 0.78%
2058 -0.71% 0.77%
2057 -0.7% 0.85%
2056 -0.68% 0.85%
2055 -0.68% 0.84%
2054 -0.65% 0.87%
2053 -0.65% 0.9%
2052 -0.64% 1.01%
2051 -0.64% 0.96%
2050 -0.64% 1.06%
2049 -0.64% 1.04%
2048 -0.64% 1.12%
2047 -0.64% 1.17%
2046 -0.65% 1.14%
2045 -0.65% 1.2%
2044 -0.65% 1.19%
2043 -0.65% 1.27%
2042 -0.66% 1.29%
2041 -0.65% 1.32%
2040 -0.65% 1.22%
2039 -0.65% 1.14%
2038 -0.65% 1.17%
2037 -0.65% 1.12%
2036 -0.65% 1.27%
2035 -0.64% 1.19%
2034 -0.63% 1.14%
2033 -0.63% 1.06%
2032 -0.62% 1.06%
2031 -0.61% 0.96%
2030 -0.6% 0.96%
2029 -0.59% 0.77%
2028 -0.58% 0.9%
2027 -0.56% 0.64%
2026 -0.54% 0.63%
2025 -0.51% 0.7%
2024 -0.43% 0.61%
2023 -0.49% 0.63%
2022 -0.44% 0.79%
2021 -0.46% 0.57%
2020 -0.29% 0.48%
2019 -0.14% 0.96%
2018 -0.13% 1.35%
2017 -0.08% 1.56%
2016 -0.05% 1.79%
2015 -0.11% 1.97%
2014 -0.13% 2.14%
2013 -0.14% 2.43%
2012 -0.16% 1.67%
2011 -0.19% 0.55%
2010 0.02% 0.27%
2009 -0.01% 0.07%
2008 0.05% -0.11%
2007 0.11% -0.14%
2006 0.06% -0.15%
2005 0.009% -0.11%
2004 0.03% 0.01%
2003 0.21% -0.23%
2002 0.23% -0.47%
2001 0.24% -0.37%
2000 0.17% -0.19%
1999 0.18% -0.11%
1998 0.27% 0.01%
1997 0.24% 0.14%
1996 0.23% 0.18%
1995 0.23% 0.28%
1994 0.28% 0.35%
1993 0.32% 0.81%
1992 0.37% 1.74%
1991 0.39% 2.37%
1990 0.33% 2.47%
1989 0.4% 2.45%
1988 0.42% 2.45%
1987 0.48% 2.33%
1986 0.53% 2.23%
1985 0.63% 2.08%
1984 0.65% 1.96%
1983 0.7% 2.19%
1982 0.7% 2.56%
1981 0.73% 2.48%
1980 0.79% 2.42%
1979 0.85% 2.33%
1978 0.91% 1.88%
1977 0.97% 1.4%
1976 1.08% 1.1%
1975 1.28% 0.92%
1974 1.34% 0.83%
1973 1.42% 0.79%
1972 1.41% 0.74%
1971 2.22% 0.77%
1970 1.16% 1.96%
1969 1.2% 4%
1968 1.13% 3.15%
1967 1.04% 1.52%
1966 0.92% 3.62%
1965 1.08% 5.75%
1964 1.05% 5.53%
1963 1.02% 4.96%
1962 0.93% 4.29%
1961 0.9% 3.62%

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/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.

Live population counters

Japan Nauru
Current population
122677250
12125
Population rank 12/197 195/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.0001%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
5.07 days
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.21 days
One death every
19.5 seconds
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +0
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +72
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +0.61%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 126/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
3 days
Annual migration change +140,579 -122
Net migration rank 10/196 82/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 2,548
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 191/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 21.3%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 29/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Nauru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Nauru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -122
2024 - 153,357 - -121
2023 -871,617 175,003 213 -148
2022 -825,825 175,003 226 -144
2021 -640,976 -34,996 236 -137
2020 -542,923 42,001 246 -214
2019 -531,858 318,190 255 -171
2018 -456,520 320,601 265 -131
2017 -406,310 322,564 279 -115
2016 -343,106 314,732 289 -105
2015 -292,424 168,896 291 -86
2014 -267,279 58,109 290 -69
2013 -242,146 66,449 291 -53
2012 -229,733 67,904 292 -38
2011 -204,533 97,720 291 -206
2010 -128,070 131,860 281 -246
2009 -76,828 125,450 261 -249
2008 -51,225 142,605 240 -243
2007 -25,600 138,024 222 -235
2006 12,785 130,065 209 -224
2005 -25,554 113,017 204 -217
2004 76,656 69,014 202 -210
2003 114,946 74,875 201 -199
2002 178,423 60,864 200 -247
2001 203,438 59,563 203 -252
2000 228,317 23,468 207 -236
1999 202,610 56,901 212 -227
1998 265,440 45,912 214 -217
1997 277,325 43,366 218 -209
1996 314,392 25,030 221 -204
1995 276,039 87,714 225 -201
1994 363,017 154,214 229 -196
1993 312,073 168,836 235 -194
1992 360,833 170,878 237 -121
1991 396,685 161,331 225 0
1990 407,478 124,582 214 20
1989 467,662 31,202 204 24
1988 527,085 51,154 195 29
1987 598,138 28,001 186 27
1986 631,706 27,987 178 21
1985 676,687 -141,323 171 8
1984 756,523 -273,686 166 -2
1983 775,495 -269,755 163 -5
1982 805,664 -288,550 162 30
1981 811,861 -278,525 157 44
1980 864,372 -92,314 145 44
1979 950,298 -57,692 130 48
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 111 40
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 89 32
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 79 0
1975 1,204,989 107 70 0
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 63 0
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 57 0
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 53 0
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 50 0
1970 1,230,496 33,731 49 0
1969 1,195,962 49,447 71 132
1968 1,191,930 43,593 116 180
1967 1,258,475 29,632 117 -28
1966 682,072 68,934 123 -32
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 113 218
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 100 203
1963 987,770 -100,742 88 181
1962 901,864 -57,075 75 158
1961 893,522 -58,882 70 120
1960 894,874 -150,371 72 76

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.

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
Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747

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/nauru | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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