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Population in Japan compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 22.8 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Japan vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan New Zealand
2100 76,978,998 5,918,837
2099 77,363,458 5,923,132
2098 77,742,445 5,927,206
2097 78,118,375 5,930,263
2096 78,498,614 5,932,907
2095 78,875,245 5,934,847
2094 79,250,325 5,936,183
2093 79,628,057 5,938,804
2092 80,007,967 5,939,085
2091 80,383,529 5,940,665
2090 80,760,724 5,941,752
2089 81,140,553 5,944,871
2088 81,521,696 5,945,635
2087 81,908,373 5,948,586
2086 82,304,497 5,951,745
2085 82,709,534 5,955,275
2084 83,123,058 5,959,115
2083 83,544,006 5,963,613
2082 83,980,325 5,966,943
2081 84,429,305 5,968,511
2080 84,899,768 5,971,082
2079 85,387,247 5,972,331
2078 85,897,934 5,972,928
2077 86,434,291 5,971,804
2076 86,993,007 5,971,386
2075 87,577,777 5,970,985
2074 88,190,392 5,969,834
2073 88,834,763 5,968,506
2072 89,499,356 5,964,548
2071 90,184,464 5,964,493
2070 90,899,136 5,963,811
2069 91,625,421 5,962,551
2068 92,367,969 5,960,918
2067 93,113,499 5,958,438
2066 93,869,240 5,954,539
2065 94,633,430 5,950,378
2064 95,391,433 5,946,851
2063 96,148,081 5,944,910
2062 96,902,907 5,940,838
2061 97,654,031 5,939,601
2060 98,400,894 5,936,094
2059 99,144,216 5,931,426
2058 99,868,968 5,925,816
2057 100,585,601 5,919,823
2056 101,295,868 5,913,287
2055 101,989,736 5,904,352
2054 102,683,462 5,894,795
2053 103,359,083 5,884,875
2052 104,036,901 5,876,162
2051 104,706,698 5,864,176
2050 105,377,283 5,852,896
2049 106,053,011 5,844,165
2048 106,731,207 5,833,178
2047 107,419,237 5,822,035
2046 108,115,358 5,809,860
2045 108,820,982 5,795,785
2044 109,529,333 5,780,884
2043 110,245,586 5,764,579
2042 110,968,174 5,746,528
2041 111,704,629 5,727,253
2040 112,438,759 5,708,874
2039 113,175,948 5,690,018
2038 113,915,783 5,669,959
2037 114,662,374 5,650,253
2036 115,410,956 5,630,126
2035 116,162,381 5,609,155
2034 116,911,001 5,588,315
2033 117,652,676 5,565,507
2032 118,393,188 5,542,488
2031 119,127,425 5,517,391
2030 119,856,131 5,491,320
2029 120,574,242 5,462,926
2028 121,287,543 5,432,752
2027 121,989,133 5,399,898
2026 122,677,250 5,364,771
2025 123,339,586 5,327,462
2024 123,975,371 5,287,500
2023 124,516,650 5,200,000
2022 125,124,989 5,081,700
2021 125,681,593 5,084,600
2020 126,261,000 5,072,400
2019 126,633,000 4,970,300
2018 126,811,000 4,900,600
2017 126,972,000 4,813,600
2016 127,076,000 4,714,100
2015 127,141,000 4,609,400
2014 127,276,000 4,516,500
2013 127,445,000 4,442,100
2012 127,629,000 4,408,100
2011 127,833,000 4,384,000
2010 128,070,000 4,350,700
2009 128,047,000 4,302,600
2008 128,063,000 4,259,800
2007 128,001,000 4,223,800
2006 127,854,000 4,184,600
2005 127,773,000 4,133,900
2004 127,761,000 4,087,500
2003 127,718,000 4,027,200
2002 127,445,000 3,948,500
2001 127,149,000 3,880,500
2000 126,843,000 3,857,700
1999 126,631,000 3,835,100
1998 126,400,000 3,815,000
1997 126,057,000 3,781,300
1996 125,757,000 3,732,000
1995 125,472,000 3,673,400
1994 125,178,000 3,620,000
1993 124,829,000 3,572,200
1992 124,425,000 3,531,700
1991 123,964,000 3,495,100
1990 123,478,000 3,329,800
1989 123,069,000 3,299,200
1988 122,578,000 3,283,400
1987 122,069,000 3,274,400
1986 121,482,000 3,246,300
1985 120,837,000 3,247,100
1984 120,083,000 3,227,100
1983 119,307,000 3,199,300
1982 118,480,000 3,156,100
1981 117,661,000 3,124,900
1980 116,807,000 3,112,900
1979 115,890,000 3,109,000
1978 114,913,000 3,121,200
1977 113,872,000 3,120,200
1976 112,775,000 3,110,500
1975 111,573,000 3,083,100
1974 110,162,000 3,023,700
1973 108,707,000 2,961,300
1972 107,188,000 2,903,900
1971 105,697,000 2,853,000
1970 103,403,000 2,810,700
1969 102,219,000 2,772,800
1968 101,011,000 2,748,100
1967 99,879,000 2,724,100
1966 98,851,000 2,675,900
1965 97,952,000 2,628,400
1964 96,903,000 2,585,400
1963 95,900,000 2,531,800
1962 94,933,000 2,482,000
1961 94,055,000 2,419,700
1960 93,216,000 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M 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
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan New Zealand
2100 -0.5% -0.07%
2099 -0.49% -0.07%
2098 -0.48% -0.05%
2097 -0.48% -0.04%
2096 -0.48% -0.03%
2095 -0.47% -0.02%
2094 -0.47% -0.04%
2093 -0.47% -0.005%
2092 -0.47% -0.03%
2091 -0.47% -0.02%
2090 -0.47% -0.05%
2089 -0.47% -0.01%
2088 -0.47% -0.05%
2087 -0.48% -0.05%
2086 -0.49% -0.06%
2085 -0.5% -0.06%
2084 -0.5% -0.08%
2083 -0.52% -0.06%
2082 -0.53% -0.03%
2081 -0.55% -0.04%
2080 -0.57% -0.02%
2079 -0.59% -0.01%
2078 -0.62% 0.02%
2077 -0.64% 0.007%
2076 -0.67% 0.007%
2075 -0.69% 0.02%
2074 -0.73% 0.02%
2073 -0.74% 0.07%
2072 -0.76% 0.001%
2071 -0.79% 0.01%
2070 -0.79% 0.02%
2069 -0.8% 0.03%
2068 -0.8% 0.04%
2067 -0.81% 0.07%
2066 -0.81% 0.07%
2065 -0.79% 0.06%
2064 -0.79% 0.03%
2063 -0.78% 0.07%
2062 -0.77% 0.02%
2061 -0.76% 0.06%
2060 -0.75% 0.08%
2059 -0.73% 0.09%
2058 -0.71% 0.1%
2057 -0.7% 0.11%
2056 -0.68% 0.15%
2055 -0.68% 0.16%
2054 -0.65% 0.17%
2053 -0.65% 0.15%
2052 -0.64% 0.2%
2051 -0.64% 0.19%
2050 -0.64% 0.15%
2049 -0.64% 0.19%
2048 -0.64% 0.19%
2047 -0.64% 0.21%
2046 -0.65% 0.24%
2045 -0.65% 0.26%
2044 -0.65% 0.28%
2043 -0.65% 0.31%
2042 -0.66% 0.34%
2041 -0.65% 0.32%
2040 -0.65% 0.33%
2039 -0.65% 0.35%
2038 -0.65% 0.35%
2037 -0.65% 0.36%
2036 -0.65% 0.37%
2035 -0.64% 0.37%
2034 -0.63% 0.41%
2033 -0.63% 0.42%
2032 -0.62% 0.45%
2031 -0.61% 0.47%
2030 -0.6% 0.52%
2029 -0.59% 0.56%
2028 -0.58% 0.61%
2027 -0.56% 0.65%
2026 -0.54% 0.7%
2025 -0.51% 0.76%
2024 -0.43% 1.68%
2023 -0.49% 2.33%
2022 -0.44% -0.06%
2021 -0.46% 0.24%
2020 -0.29% 2.05%
2019 -0.14% 1.42%
2018 -0.13% 1.81%
2017 -0.08% 2.11%
2016 -0.05% 2.27%
2015 -0.11% 2.06%
2014 -0.13% 1.67%
2013 -0.14% 0.77%
2012 -0.16% 0.55%
2011 -0.19% 0.77%
2010 0.02% 1.12%
2009 -0.01% 1%
2008 0.05% 0.85%
2007 0.11% 0.94%
2006 0.06% 1.23%
2005 0.009% 1.14%
2004 0.03% 1.5%
2003 0.21% 1.99%
2002 0.23% 1.75%
2001 0.24% 0.59%
2000 0.17% 0.59%
1999 0.18% 0.53%
1998 0.27% 0.89%
1997 0.24% 1.32%
1996 0.23% 1.6%
1995 0.23% 1.48%
1994 0.28% 1.34%
1993 0.32% 1.15%
1992 0.37% 1.05%
1991 0.39% 4.96%
1990 0.33% 0.93%
1989 0.4% 0.48%
1988 0.42% 0.27%
1987 0.48% 0.87%
1986 0.53% -0.02%
1985 0.63% 0.62%
1984 0.65% 0.87%
1983 0.7% 1.37%
1982 0.7% 1%
1981 0.73% 0.39%
1980 0.79% 0.13%
1979 0.85% -0.39%
1978 0.91% 0.03%
1977 0.97% 0.31%
1976 1.08% 0.89%
1975 1.28% 1.96%
1974 1.34% 2.11%
1973 1.42% 1.98%
1972 1.41% 1.78%
1971 2.22% 1.5%
1970 1.16% 1.37%
1969 1.2% 0.9%
1968 1.13% 0.88%
1967 1.04% 1.8%
1966 0.92% 1.81%
1965 1.08% 1.66%
1964 1.05% 2.12%
1963 1.02% 2.01%
1962 0.93% 2.57%
1961 0.9% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Japan New Zealand
Current population
122677250
5374272
Population rank 12/197 124/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.06%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +240
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 65/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +17,403
Net migration rank 10/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 17,403
2024 - 153,357 - 18,766
2023 -871,617 175,003 18,876 21,404
2022 -825,825 175,003 20,123 21,404
2021 -640,976 -34,996 23,644 -14,944
2020 -542,923 42,001 24,905 42,124
2019 -531,858 318,190 25,299 69,770
2018 -456,520 320,601 24,797 59,139
2017 -406,310 322,564 26,282 68,349
2016 -343,106 314,732 28,237 75,512
2015 -292,424 168,896 29,408 70,870
2014 -267,279 58,109 26,196 57,974
2013 -242,146 66,449 29,096 26,385
2012 -229,733 67,904 31,077 -1,015
2011 -204,533 97,720 31,302 -2,196
2010 -128,070 131,860 35,458 6,722
2009 -76,828 125,450 33,560 12,700
2008 -51,225 142,605 35,143 4,804
2007 -25,600 138,024 35,480 3,053
2006 12,785 130,065 30,924 14,542
2005 -25,554 113,017 30,674 19,212
2004 76,656 69,014 29,634 24,521
2003 114,946 74,875 28,150 42,456
2002 178,423 60,864 25,941 48,195
2001 203,438 59,563 27,939 17,793
2000 228,317 23,468 29,897 -6,604
1999 202,610 56,901 28,916 -7,634
1998 265,440 45,912 29,146 -1,387
1997 277,325 43,366 30,137 12,040
1996 314,392 25,030 28,997 25,169
1995 276,039 87,714 29,828 26,743
1994 363,017 154,214 30,372 20,420
1993 312,073 168,836 31,685 12,638
1992 360,833 170,878 32,067 6,460
1991 396,685 161,331 33,518 31,156
1990 407,478 124,582 33,298 70,432
1989 467,662 31,202 30,749 -8,818
1988 527,085 51,154 29,846 -17,005
1987 598,138 28,001 27,603 -7,631
1986 631,706 27,987 25,549 -10,234
1985 676,687 -141,323 24,126 -13,462
1984 756,523 -273,686 26,043 -901
1983 775,495 -269,755 24,315 11,464
1982 805,664 -288,550 24,207 7,982
1981 811,861 -278,525 25,374 -7,606
1980 864,372 -92,314 23,658 -15,423
1979 950,298 -57,692 26,675 -26,694
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 26,156 -28,783
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 28,020 -22,697
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 29,456 -9,138
1975 1,204,989 107 31,355 13,196
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 33,896 27,580
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 35,239 28,261
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 38,244 17,779
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 40,000 7,547
1970 1,230,496 33,731 37,101 4,511
1969 1,195,962 49,447 38,098 -5,212
1968 1,191,930 43,593 37,594 -11,853
1967 1,258,475 29,632 37,974 -2,289
1966 682,072 68,934 36,151 9,161
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 36,982 9,245
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 39,375 9,806
1963 987,770 -100,742 42,027 10,226
1962 901,864 -57,075 42,865 12,697
1961 893,522 -58,882 43,482 10,689
1960 894,874 -150,371 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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