Skip to content

Population in Japan compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 6.73 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.7% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Japan vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Netherlands
2100 76,995,942 17,329,352
2099 77,380,486 17,362,626
2098 77,759,557 17,395,665
2097 78,135,569 17,429,925
2096 78,515,892 17,465,162
2095 78,892,606 17,502,567
2094 79,267,768 17,540,959
2093 79,645,584 17,580,632
2092 80,025,578 17,619,384
2091 80,401,222 17,658,238
2090 80,778,500 17,700,204
2089 81,158,413 17,739,947
2088 81,539,639 17,779,324
2087 81,926,401 17,815,257
2086 82,322,612 17,854,371
2085 82,727,738 17,890,610
2084 83,141,354 17,926,885
2083 83,562,394 17,963,416
2082 83,998,809 17,998,527
2081 84,447,888 18,032,297
2080 84,918,455 18,062,716
2079 85,406,042 18,093,254
2078 85,916,840 18,121,649
2077 86,453,316 18,150,234
2076 87,012,155 18,175,683
2075 87,597,053 18,196,574
2074 88,209,803 18,214,405
2073 88,854,316 18,232,486
2072 89,519,055 18,249,136
2071 90,204,314 18,264,367
2070 90,919,143 18,279,781
2069 91,645,589 18,295,123
2068 92,388,299 18,310,300
2067 93,133,993 18,325,333
2066 93,889,902 18,343,435
2065 94,654,259 18,364,513
2064 95,412,429 18,386,352
2063 96,169,244 18,409,851
2062 96,924,236 18,433,299
2061 97,675,525 18,460,766
2060 98,422,553 18,488,598
2059 99,166,038 18,517,020
2058 99,890,950 18,545,884
2057 100,607,740 18,576,502
2056 101,318,164 18,606,997
2055 102,012,184 18,634,546
2054 102,706,063 18,660,585
2053 103,381,833 18,686,212
2052 104,059,800 18,709,643
2051 104,729,745 18,736,166
2050 105,400,477 18,757,302
2049 106,076,354 18,777,673
2048 106,754,699 18,795,411
2047 107,442,881 18,812,362
2046 108,139,155 18,823,628
2045 108,844,934 18,834,974
2044 109,553,441 18,844,772
2043 110,269,851 18,850,396
2042 110,992,599 18,853,495
2041 111,729,216 18,852,912
2040 112,463,507 18,847,238
2039 113,200,859 18,837,931
2038 113,940,856 18,823,220
2037 114,687,611 18,804,912
2036 115,436,359 18,779,656
2035 116,187,949 18,751,144
2034 116,936,734 18,718,013
2033 117,678,572 18,676,061
2032 118,419,247 18,630,094
2031 119,153,646 18,577,582
2030 119,882,512 18,517,866
2029 120,600,781 18,449,618
2028 121,314,239 18,372,676
2027 122,015,984 18,289,268
2026 122,704,252 18,196,186
2025 123,366,734 18,087,633
2024 123,975,371 17,993,485
2023 124,516,650 17,877,117
2022 125,124,989 17,700,982
2021 125,681,593 17,533,044
2020 126,261,000 17,441,500
2019 126,633,000 17,344,874
2018 126,811,000 17,231,624
2017 126,972,000 17,131,296
2016 127,076,000 17,030,314
2015 127,141,000 16,939,923
2014 127,276,000 16,865,008
2013 127,445,000 16,804,432
2012 127,629,000 16,754,962
2011 127,833,000 16,693,074
2010 128,070,000 16,615,394
2009 128,047,000 16,530,388
2008 128,063,000 16,445,593
2007 128,001,000 16,381,696
2006 127,854,000 16,346,101
2005 127,773,000 16,319,868
2004 127,761,000 16,281,779
2003 127,718,000 16,225,302
2002 127,445,000 16,148,929
2001 127,149,000 16,046,180
2000 126,843,000 15,925,513
1999 126,631,000 15,812,088
1998 126,400,000 15,707,209
1997 126,057,000 15,610,650
1996 125,757,000 15,530,498
1995 125,472,000 15,459,006
1994 125,178,000 15,382,838
1993 124,829,000 15,290,368
1992 124,425,000 15,184,166
1991 123,964,000 15,069,798
1990 123,478,000 14,951,510
1989 123,069,000 14,848,907
1988 122,578,000 14,760,094
1987 122,069,000 14,665,037
1986 121,482,000 14,572,278
1985 120,837,000 14,491,632
1984 120,083,000 14,424,211
1983 119,307,000 14,367,070
1982 118,480,000 14,312,690
1981 117,661,000 14,247,208
1980 116,807,000 14,149,800
1979 115,890,000 14,038,270
1978 114,913,000 13,941,700
1977 113,872,000 13,856,185
1976 112,775,000 13,774,037
1975 111,573,000 13,666,335
1974 110,162,000 13,545,056
1973 108,707,000 13,439,322
1972 107,188,000 13,328,593
1971 105,697,000 13,194,497
1970 103,403,000 13,038,526
1969 102,219,000 12,877,984
1968 101,011,000 12,729,721
1967 99,879,000 12,598,201
1966 98,851,000 12,456,251
1965 97,952,000 12,294,732
1964 96,903,000 12,127,120
1963 95,900,000 11,965,966
1962 94,933,000 11,805,689
1961 94,055,000 11,638,712
1960 93,216,000 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M 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
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Netherlands
2100 -0.5% -0.19%
2099 -0.49% -0.19%
2098 -0.48% -0.2%
2097 -0.48% -0.2%
2096 -0.48% -0.21%
2095 -0.47% -0.22%
2094 -0.47% -0.23%
2093 -0.47% -0.22%
2092 -0.47% -0.22%
2091 -0.47% -0.24%
2090 -0.47% -0.22%
2089 -0.47% -0.22%
2088 -0.47% -0.2%
2087 -0.48% -0.22%
2086 -0.49% -0.2%
2085 -0.5% -0.2%
2084 -0.5% -0.2%
2083 -0.52% -0.2%
2082 -0.53% -0.19%
2081 -0.55% -0.17%
2080 -0.57% -0.17%
2079 -0.59% -0.16%
2078 -0.62% -0.16%
2077 -0.64% -0.14%
2076 -0.67% -0.11%
2075 -0.69% -0.1%
2074 -0.73% -0.1%
2073 -0.74% -0.09%
2072 -0.76% -0.08%
2071 -0.79% -0.08%
2070 -0.79% -0.08%
2069 -0.8% -0.08%
2068 -0.8% -0.08%
2067 -0.81% -0.1%
2066 -0.81% -0.11%
2065 -0.79% -0.12%
2064 -0.79% -0.13%
2063 -0.78% -0.13%
2062 -0.77% -0.15%
2061 -0.76% -0.15%
2060 -0.75% -0.15%
2059 -0.73% -0.16%
2058 -0.71% -0.16%
2057 -0.7% -0.16%
2056 -0.68% -0.15%
2055 -0.68% -0.14%
2054 -0.65% -0.14%
2053 -0.65% -0.13%
2052 -0.64% -0.14%
2051 -0.64% -0.11%
2050 -0.64% -0.11%
2049 -0.64% -0.09%
2048 -0.64% -0.09%
2047 -0.64% -0.06%
2046 -0.65% -0.06%
2045 -0.65% -0.05%
2044 -0.65% -0.03%
2043 -0.65% -0.02%
2042 -0.66% 0.003%
2041 -0.65% 0.03%
2040 -0.65% 0.05%
2039 -0.65% 0.08%
2038 -0.65% 0.1%
2037 -0.65% 0.13%
2036 -0.65% 0.15%
2035 -0.64% 0.18%
2034 -0.63% 0.22%
2033 -0.63% 0.25%
2032 -0.62% 0.28%
2031 -0.61% 0.32%
2030 -0.6% 0.37%
2029 -0.59% 0.42%
2028 -0.58% 0.46%
2027 -0.56% 0.51%
2026 -0.54% 0.6%
2025 -0.49% 0.52%
2024 -0.43% 0.65%
2023 -0.49% 1%
2022 -0.44% 0.96%
2021 -0.46% 0.52%
2020 -0.29% 0.56%
2019 -0.14% 0.66%
2018 -0.13% 0.59%
2017 -0.08% 0.59%
2016 -0.05% 0.53%
2015 -0.11% 0.44%
2014 -0.13% 0.36%
2013 -0.14% 0.3%
2012 -0.16% 0.37%
2011 -0.19% 0.47%
2010 0.02% 0.51%
2009 -0.01% 0.52%
2008 0.05% 0.39%
2007 0.11% 0.22%
2006 0.06% 0.16%
2005 0.009% 0.23%
2004 0.03% 0.35%
2003 0.21% 0.47%
2002 0.23% 0.64%
2001 0.24% 0.76%
2000 0.17% 0.72%
1999 0.18% 0.67%
1998 0.27% 0.62%
1997 0.24% 0.52%
1996 0.23% 0.46%
1995 0.23% 0.5%
1994 0.28% 0.6%
1993 0.32% 0.7%
1992 0.37% 0.76%
1991 0.39% 0.79%
1990 0.33% 0.69%
1989 0.4% 0.6%
1988 0.42% 0.65%
1987 0.48% 0.64%
1986 0.53% 0.56%
1985 0.63% 0.47%
1984 0.65% 0.4%
1983 0.7% 0.38%
1982 0.7% 0.46%
1981 0.73% 0.69%
1980 0.79% 0.79%
1979 0.85% 0.69%
1978 0.91% 0.62%
1977 0.97% 0.6%
1976 1.08% 0.79%
1975 1.28% 0.9%
1974 1.34% 0.79%
1973 1.42% 0.83%
1972 1.41% 1.02%
1971 2.22% 1.2%
1970 1.16% 1.25%
1969 1.2% 1.16%
1968 1.13% 1.04%
1967 1.04% 1.14%
1966 0.92% 1.31%
1965 1.08% 1.38%
1964 1.05% 1.35%
1963 1.02% 1.36%
1962 0.93% 1.43%
1961 0.9% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Japan Netherlands
Current population
122704252
18243998
Population rank 12/197 72/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.22%
One net population change
52 seconds
5.6 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
3.18 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +258
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 127/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +104,681
Net migration rank 10/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 104,681
2024 -942,213 153,357 -7,197 121,628
2023 -871,617 175,003 -5,363 144,558
2022 -825,825 175,003 -1,770 224,472
2021 -640,976 -34,996 7,014 106,416
2020 -542,923 42,001 0 67,598
2019 -531,858 318,190 17,345 109,003
2018 -456,520 320,601 15,508 87,197
2017 -406,310 322,564 18,844 86,332
2016 -343,106 314,732 23,843 88,743
2015 -292,424 168,896 23,716 55,585
2014 -267,279 58,109 35,417 36,591
2013 -242,146 66,449 30,248 19,973
2012 -229,733 67,904 35,186 14,861
2011 -204,533 97,720 45,072 31,224
2010 -128,070 131,860 48,184 33,703
2009 -76,828 125,450 51,244 39,832
2008 -51,225 142,605 49,337 32,406
2007 -25,600 138,024 49,145 -304
2006 12,785 130,065 49,038 -25,401
2005 -25,554 113,017 50,592 -22,496
2004 76,656 69,014 56,987 -9,230
2003 114,946 74,875 58,411 7,937
2002 178,423 60,864 59,751 28,824
2001 203,438 59,563 62,580 56,096
2000 228,317 23,468 66,887 59,308
1999 202,610 56,901 60,086 47,179
1998 265,440 45,912 61,258 52,058
1997 277,325 43,366 56,198 31,302
1996 314,392 25,030 51,251 21,792
1995 276,039 87,714 54,106 15,056
1994 363,017 154,214 61,532 20,193
1993 312,073 168,836 58,103 44,514
1992 360,833 170,878 66,811 50,148
1991 396,685 161,331 69,321 51,670
1990 407,478 124,582 68,777 53,564
1989 467,662 31,202 59,396 31,165
1988 527,085 51,154 61,993 31,026
1987 598,138 28,001 64,526 39,559
1986 631,706 27,987 59,746 30,380
1985 676,687 -141,323 55,069 27,356
1984 756,523 -273,686 54,812 12,902
1983 775,495 -269,755 51,722 11,007
1982 805,664 -288,550 54,388 7,644
1981 811,861 -278,525 62,688 17,643
1980 864,372 -92,314 66,504 54,010
1979 950,298 -57,692 63,172 42,772
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 61,344 26,639
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 63,739 19,809
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 63,361 18,774
1975 1,204,989 107 64,232 68,569
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 75,853 31,645
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 84,668 18,705
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 101,297 17,470
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 116,112 32,756
1970 1,230,496 33,731 129,082 32,438
1969 1,195,962 49,447 139,082 21,850
1968 1,191,930 43,593 132,389 7,243
1967 1,258,475 29,632 138,580 -10,673
1966 682,072 68,934 138,265 20,740
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 146,308 19,444
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 157,653 15,014
1963 987,770 -100,742 154,361 -21
1962 901,864 -57,075 153,474 18,024
1961 893,522 -58,882 159,450 8,258
1960 894,874 -150,371 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.