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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 5,610,870 people in Norway in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 5,660,666 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 21.7 times bigger than Norway's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 1.54% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.81% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.66M (21.5% growth).

Japan vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Norway
2100 76,995,942 5,426,970
2099 77,380,486 5,439,664
2098 77,759,557 5,451,717
2097 78,135,569 5,463,190
2096 78,515,892 5,474,994
2095 78,892,606 5,487,368
2094 79,267,768 5,499,514
2093 79,645,584 5,512,056
2092 80,025,578 5,524,021
2091 80,401,222 5,535,989
2090 80,778,500 5,548,825
2089 81,158,413 5,561,462
2088 81,539,639 5,574,757
2087 81,926,401 5,588,831
2086 82,322,612 5,602,569
2085 82,727,738 5,616,010
2084 83,141,354 5,629,675
2083 83,562,394 5,642,568
2082 83,998,809 5,654,975
2081 84,447,888 5,666,885
2080 84,918,455 5,678,624
2079 85,406,042 5,689,711
2078 85,916,840 5,700,349
2077 86,453,316 5,710,483
2076 87,012,155 5,720,209
2075 87,597,053 5,729,904
2074 88,209,803 5,739,940
2073 88,854,316 5,749,872
2072 89,519,055 5,759,499
2071 90,204,314 5,768,298
2070 90,919,143 5,777,747
2069 91,645,589 5,786,471
2068 92,388,299 5,795,734
2067 93,133,993 5,805,627
2066 93,889,902 5,815,585
2065 94,654,259 5,825,356
2064 95,412,429 5,835,081
2063 96,169,244 5,844,519
2062 96,924,236 5,853,646
2061 97,675,525 5,861,677
2060 98,422,553 5,869,390
2059 99,166,038 5,875,920
2058 99,890,950 5,881,790
2057 100,607,740 5,888,181
2056 101,318,164 5,894,125
2055 102,012,184 5,899,106
2054 102,706,063 5,903,121
2053 103,381,833 5,906,126
2052 104,059,800 5,907,281
2051 104,729,745 5,907,735
2050 105,400,477 5,907,355
2049 106,076,354 5,905,940
2048 106,754,699 5,903,025
2047 107,442,881 5,899,964
2046 108,139,155 5,896,254
2045 108,844,934 5,891,177
2044 109,553,441 5,886,031
2043 110,269,851 5,880,486
2042 110,992,599 5,873,632
2041 111,729,216 5,865,604
2040 112,463,507 5,857,447
2039 113,200,859 5,848,023
2038 113,940,856 5,837,628
2037 114,687,611 5,826,752
2036 115,436,359 5,815,042
2035 116,187,949 5,802,966
2034 116,936,734 5,790,086
2033 117,678,572 5,776,187
2032 118,419,247 5,761,261
2031 119,153,646 5,745,071
2030 119,882,512 5,728,104
2029 120,600,781 5,710,229
2028 121,314,239 5,691,155
2027 122,015,984 5,670,783
2026 122,704,252 5,649,981
2025 123,366,734 5,610,870
2024 123,975,371 5,572,279
2023 124,516,650 5,519,601
2022 125,124,989 5,457,127
2021 125,681,593 5,408,320
2020 126,261,000 5,379,475
2019 126,633,000 5,347,896
2018 126,811,000 5,311,916
2017 126,972,000 5,276,968
2016 127,076,000 5,234,519
2015 127,141,000 5,188,607
2014 127,276,000 5,137,232
2013 127,445,000 5,079,623
2012 127,629,000 5,018,573
2011 127,833,000 4,953,088
2010 128,070,000 4,889,252
2009 128,047,000 4,828,726
2008 128,063,000 4,768,212
2007 128,001,000 4,709,153
2006 127,854,000 4,660,677
2005 127,773,000 4,623,291
2004 127,761,000 4,591,910
2003 127,718,000 4,564,855
2002 127,445,000 4,538,159
2001 127,149,000 4,513,751
2000 126,843,000 4,490,967
1999 126,631,000 4,461,913
1998 126,400,000 4,431,464
1997 126,057,000 4,405,157
1996 125,757,000 4,381,336
1995 125,472,000 4,359,184
1994 125,178,000 4,336,613
1993 124,829,000 4,311,991
1992 124,425,000 4,286,401
1991 123,964,000 4,261,732
1990 123,478,000 4,241,473
1989 123,069,000 4,226,901
1988 122,578,000 4,209,488
1987 122,069,000 4,186,905
1986 121,482,000 4,167,354
1985 120,837,000 4,152,516
1984 120,083,000 4,140,099
1983 119,307,000 4,128,432
1982 118,480,000 4,114,787
1981 117,661,000 4,099,702
1980 116,807,000 4,085,620
1979 115,890,000 4,072,517
1978 114,913,000 4,058,671
1977 113,872,000 4,043,205
1976 112,775,000 4,026,152
1975 111,573,000 4,007,313
1974 110,162,000 3,985,258
1973 108,707,000 3,960,612
1972 107,188,000 3,933,004
1971 105,697,000 3,903,039
1970 103,403,000 3,875,763
1969 102,219,000 3,847,707
1968 101,011,000 3,816,486
1967 99,879,000 3,784,539
1966 98,851,000 3,753,012
1965 97,952,000 3,723,168
1964 96,903,000 3,694,339
1963 95,900,000 3,666,537
1962 94,933,000 3,638,918
1961 94,055,000 3,609,800
1960 93,216,000 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Norway's population increased by 426,147 people (a 8.14% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.36% to 5,907,355 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.91M 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
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Norway
2100 -0.5% -0.23%
2099 -0.49% -0.22%
2098 -0.48% -0.21%
2097 -0.48% -0.22%
2096 -0.48% -0.23%
2095 -0.47% -0.22%
2094 -0.47% -0.23%
2093 -0.47% -0.22%
2092 -0.47% -0.22%
2091 -0.47% -0.23%
2090 -0.47% -0.23%
2089 -0.47% -0.24%
2088 -0.47% -0.25%
2087 -0.48% -0.25%
2086 -0.49% -0.24%
2085 -0.5% -0.24%
2084 -0.5% -0.23%
2083 -0.52% -0.22%
2082 -0.53% -0.21%
2081 -0.55% -0.21%
2080 -0.57% -0.19%
2079 -0.59% -0.19%
2078 -0.62% -0.18%
2077 -0.64% -0.17%
2076 -0.67% -0.17%
2075 -0.69% -0.17%
2074 -0.73% -0.17%
2073 -0.74% -0.17%
2072 -0.76% -0.15%
2071 -0.79% -0.16%
2070 -0.79% -0.15%
2069 -0.8% -0.16%
2068 -0.8% -0.17%
2067 -0.81% -0.17%
2066 -0.81% -0.17%
2065 -0.79% -0.17%
2064 -0.79% -0.16%
2063 -0.78% -0.16%
2062 -0.77% -0.14%
2061 -0.76% -0.13%
2060 -0.75% -0.11%
2059 -0.73% -0.1%
2058 -0.71% -0.11%
2057 -0.7% -0.1%
2056 -0.68% -0.08%
2055 -0.68% -0.07%
2054 -0.65% -0.05%
2053 -0.65% -0.02%
2052 -0.64% -0.008%
2051 -0.64% 0.006%
2050 -0.64% 0.02%
2049 -0.64% 0.05%
2048 -0.64% 0.05%
2047 -0.64% 0.06%
2046 -0.65% 0.09%
2045 -0.65% 0.09%
2044 -0.65% 0.09%
2043 -0.65% 0.12%
2042 -0.66% 0.14%
2041 -0.65% 0.14%
2040 -0.65% 0.16%
2039 -0.65% 0.18%
2038 -0.65% 0.19%
2037 -0.65% 0.2%
2036 -0.65% 0.21%
2035 -0.64% 0.22%
2034 -0.63% 0.24%
2033 -0.63% 0.26%
2032 -0.62% 0.28%
2031 -0.61% 0.3%
2030 -0.6% 0.31%
2029 -0.59% 0.34%
2028 -0.58% 0.36%
2027 -0.56% 0.37%
2026 -0.54% 0.7%
2025 -0.49% 0.69%
2024 -0.43% 0.95%
2023 -0.49% 1.14%
2022 -0.44% 0.9%
2021 -0.46% 0.54%
2020 -0.29% 0.59%
2019 -0.14% 0.68%
2018 -0.13% 0.66%
2017 -0.08% 0.81%
2016 -0.05% 0.88%
2015 -0.11% 1%
2014 -0.13% 1.13%
2013 -0.14% 1.22%
2012 -0.16% 1.32%
2011 -0.19% 1.31%
2010 0.02% 1.25%
2009 -0.01% 1.27%
2008 0.05% 1.25%
2007 0.11% 1.04%
2006 0.06% 0.81%
2005 0.009% 0.68%
2004 0.03% 0.59%
2003 0.21% 0.59%
2002 0.23% 0.54%
2001 0.24% 0.51%
2000 0.17% 0.65%
1999 0.18% 0.69%
1998 0.27% 0.6%
1997 0.24% 0.54%
1996 0.23% 0.51%
1995 0.23% 0.52%
1994 0.28% 0.57%
1993 0.32% 0.6%
1992 0.37% 0.58%
1991 0.39% 0.48%
1990 0.33% 0.34%
1989 0.4% 0.41%
1988 0.42% 0.54%
1987 0.48% 0.47%
1986 0.53% 0.36%
1985 0.63% 0.3%
1984 0.65% 0.28%
1983 0.7% 0.33%
1982 0.7% 0.37%
1981 0.73% 0.34%
1980 0.79% 0.32%
1979 0.85% 0.34%
1978 0.91% 0.38%
1977 0.97% 0.42%
1976 1.08% 0.47%
1975 1.28% 0.55%
1974 1.34% 0.62%
1973 1.42% 0.7%
1972 1.41% 0.77%
1971 2.22% 0.7%
1970 1.16% 0.73%
1969 1.2% 0.82%
1968 1.13% 0.84%
1967 1.04% 0.84%
1966 0.92% 0.8%
1965 1.08% 0.78%
1964 1.05% 0.76%
1963 1.02% 0.76%
1962 0.93% 0.81%
1961 0.9% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Norway's population grew by 0.69%.

Live population counters

Japan Norway
Current population
122704252
5660666
Population rank 12/197 119/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.07%
One net population change
52 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
9.72 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
11.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +106
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +38,591
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +0.69%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 117/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +29,798
Net migration rank 10/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 29,798
2024 -942,213 153,357 10,030 44,356
2023 -871,617 175,003 8,280 53,806
2022 -825,825 175,003 5,457 58,040
2021 -640,976 -34,996 14,062 19,804
2020 -542,923 42,001 12,372 11,277
2019 -531,858 318,190 13,904 25,707
2018 -456,520 320,601 14,342 18,473
2017 -406,310 322,564 15,831 21,657
2016 -343,106 314,732 17,797 26,417
2015 -292,424 168,896 18,160 30,242
2014 -267,279 58,109 18,494 38,522
2013 -242,146 66,449 17,779 40,690
2012 -229,733 67,904 18,066 47,883
2011 -204,533 97,720 18,822 47,454
2010 -128,070 131,860 20,046 42,865
2009 -76,828 125,450 20,280 39,316
2008 -51,225 142,605 19,073 44,002
2007 -25,600 138,024 16,482 40,111
2006 12,785 130,065 17,244 24,054
2005 -25,554 113,017 15,719 18,588
2004 76,656 69,014 15,612 13,412
2003 114,946 74,875 14,151 11,389
2002 178,423 60,864 10,892 17,279
2001 203,438 59,563 13,090 7,906
2000 228,317 23,468 15,269 9,805
1999 202,610 56,901 14,278 19,147
1998 265,440 45,912 14,181 13,519
1997 277,325 43,366 15,418 9,744
1996 314,392 25,030 17,087 5,671
1995 276,039 87,714 14,821 6,343
1994 363,017 154,214 16,045 7,580
1993 312,073 168,836 12,936 12,567
1992 360,833 170,878 15,431 10,218
1991 396,685 161,331 16,194 7,949
1990 407,478 124,582 14,845 1,818
1989 467,662 31,202 13,949 -1,730
1988 527,085 51,154 12,207 10,380
1987 598,138 28,001 9,212 13,907
1986 631,706 27,987 8,751 7,616
1985 676,687 -141,323 6,644 6,725
1984 756,523 -273,686 7,452 3,856
1983 775,495 -269,755 7,844 4,120
1982 805,664 -288,550 9,875 5,749
1981 811,861 -278,525 9,020 6,010
1980 864,372 -92,314 9,806 3,763
1979 950,298 -57,692 10,181 2,839
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 11,364 3,823
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 11,321 4,845
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 13,286 4,779
1975 1,204,989 107 16,430 3,312
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 20,324 4,425
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 21,387 3,414
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 24,777 5,603
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 26,541 3,031
1970 1,230,496 33,731 25,968 -1,034
1969 1,195,962 49,447 28,858 2,230
1968 1,191,930 43,593 29,387 1,761
1967 1,258,475 29,632 30,276 2,460
1966 682,072 68,934 31,150 -888
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 31,275 -1,525
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 30,293 -1,571
1963 987,770 -100,742 26,766 1,061
1962 901,864 -57,075 28,020 655
1961 893,522 -58,882 29,239 1,437
1960 894,874 -150,371 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/norway | 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 Norway 29.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 130,235 people) and 70.4% is from migration (a gain of 309,779 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 152K
Baerum 133K
Drammen 106K
Asker 102K
Lillestrom 96.8K
Fredrikstad 86.2K
Sandnes 85.8K

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/norway | 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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