The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Japan's population is 6,964 times bigger than Palau's.
- Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).
Japan vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Japan
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 76,995,942 | 11,146 |
| 2099 | 77,380,486 | 11,210 |
| 2098 | 77,759,557 | 11,275 |
| 2097 | 78,135,569 | 11,346 |
| 2096 | 78,515,892 | 11,411 |
| 2095 | 78,892,606 | 11,479 |
| 2094 | 79,267,768 | 11,543 |
| 2093 | 79,645,584 | 11,610 |
| 2092 | 80,025,578 | 11,676 |
| 2091 | 80,401,222 | 11,747 |
| 2090 | 80,778,500 | 11,823 |
| 2089 | 81,158,413 | 11,901 |
| 2088 | 81,539,639 | 11,962 |
| 2087 | 81,926,401 | 12,034 |
| 2086 | 82,322,612 | 12,103 |
| 2085 | 82,727,738 | 12,165 |
| 2084 | 83,141,354 | 12,245 |
| 2083 | 83,562,394 | 12,310 |
| 2082 | 83,998,809 | 12,376 |
| 2081 | 84,447,888 | 12,451 |
| 2080 | 84,918,455 | 12,531 |
| 2079 | 85,406,042 | 12,602 |
| 2078 | 85,916,840 | 12,674 |
| 2077 | 86,453,316 | 12,751 |
| 2076 | 87,012,155 | 12,831 |
| 2075 | 87,597,053 | 12,907 |
| 2074 | 88,209,803 | 13,000 |
| 2073 | 88,854,316 | 13,084 |
| 2072 | 89,519,055 | 13,154 |
| 2071 | 90,204,314 | 13,245 |
| 2070 | 90,919,143 | 13,332 |
| 2069 | 91,645,589 | 13,424 |
| 2068 | 92,388,299 | 13,518 |
| 2067 | 93,133,993 | 13,614 |
| 2066 | 93,889,902 | 13,716 |
| 2065 | 94,654,259 | 13,811 |
| 2064 | 95,412,429 | 13,913 |
| 2063 | 96,169,244 | 14,018 |
| 2062 | 96,924,236 | 14,129 |
| 2061 | 97,675,525 | 14,244 |
| 2060 | 98,422,553 | 14,350 |
| 2059 | 99,166,038 | 14,471 |
| 2058 | 99,890,950 | 14,581 |
| 2057 | 100,607,740 | 14,710 |
| 2056 | 101,318,164 | 14,830 |
| 2055 | 102,012,184 | 14,954 |
| 2054 | 102,706,063 | 15,077 |
| 2053 | 103,381,833 | 15,198 |
| 2052 | 104,059,800 | 15,324 |
| 2051 | 104,729,745 | 15,445 |
| 2050 | 105,400,477 | 15,554 |
| 2049 | 106,076,354 | 15,674 |
| 2048 | 106,754,699 | 15,789 |
| 2047 | 107,442,881 | 15,904 |
| 2046 | 108,139,155 | 16,015 |
| 2045 | 108,844,934 | 16,123 |
| 2044 | 109,553,441 | 16,237 |
| 2043 | 110,269,851 | 16,331 |
| 2042 | 110,992,599 | 16,437 |
| 2041 | 111,729,216 | 16,541 |
| 2040 | 112,463,507 | 16,623 |
| 2039 | 113,200,859 | 16,719 |
| 2038 | 113,940,856 | 16,797 |
| 2037 | 114,687,611 | 16,886 |
| 2036 | 115,436,359 | 16,955 |
| 2035 | 116,187,949 | 17,033 |
| 2034 | 116,936,734 | 17,109 |
| 2033 | 117,678,572 | 17,181 |
| 2032 | 118,419,247 | 17,241 |
| 2031 | 119,153,646 | 17,321 |
| 2030 | 119,882,512 | 17,389 |
| 2029 | 120,600,781 | 17,448 |
| 2028 | 121,314,239 | 17,518 |
| 2027 | 122,015,984 | 17,567 |
| 2026 | 122,704,252 | 17,620 |
| 2025 | 123,366,734 | 17,663 |
| 2024 | 123,975,371 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 124,516,650 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 125,124,989 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 125,681,593 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 126,261,000 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 126,633,000 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 126,811,000 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 126,972,000 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 127,076,000 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 127,141,000 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 127,276,000 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 127,445,000 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 127,629,000 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 127,833,000 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 128,070,000 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 128,047,000 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 128,063,000 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 128,001,000 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 127,854,000 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 127,773,000 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 127,761,000 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 127,718,000 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 127,445,000 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 127,149,000 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 126,843,000 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 126,631,000 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 126,400,000 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 126,057,000 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 125,757,000 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 125,472,000 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 125,178,000 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 124,829,000 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 124,425,000 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 123,964,000 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 123,478,000 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 123,069,000 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 122,578,000 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 122,069,000 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 121,482,000 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 120,837,000 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 120,083,000 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 119,307,000 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 118,480,000 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 117,661,000 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 116,807,000 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 115,890,000 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 114,913,000 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 113,872,000 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 112,775,000 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 111,573,000 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 110,162,000 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 108,707,000 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 107,188,000 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 105,697,000 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 103,403,000 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 102,219,000 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 101,011,000 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 99,879,000 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 98,851,000 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 97,952,000 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 96,903,000 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 95,900,000 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 94,933,000 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 94,055,000 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 93,216,000 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).
Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 29.1% of the population in Japan and 27.2% in Palau.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.5% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.49% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.48% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.48% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.48% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.47% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.47% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.47% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.47% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.47% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.47% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.47% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | -0.47% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | -0.48% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | -0.49% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | -0.5% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | -0.5% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | -0.52% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | -0.53% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | -0.55% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | -0.57% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | -0.59% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | -0.62% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | -0.64% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | -0.67% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | -0.69% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | -0.73% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | -0.74% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | -0.76% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | -0.79% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | -0.79% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | -0.8% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | -0.8% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | -0.81% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | -0.81% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | -0.79% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | -0.79% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | -0.77% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | -0.76% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | -0.75% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | -0.73% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | -0.71% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | -0.7% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | -0.68% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | -0.68% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | -0.65% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | -0.65% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | -0.64% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | -0.64% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | -0.64% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | -0.64% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | -0.64% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | -0.64% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | -0.65% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.65% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | -0.65% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | -0.65% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | -0.66% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | -0.65% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | -0.65% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | -0.65% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | -0.65% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | -0.65% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | -0.65% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | -0.64% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | -0.63% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | -0.63% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | -0.62% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | -0.61% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | -0.6% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | -0.59% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | -0.58% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | -0.56% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | -0.54% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | -0.49% | -0.18% |
| 2024 | -0.43% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | -0.49% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | -0.44% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | -0.46% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | -0.29% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | -0.14% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | -0.13% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | -0.08% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | -0.05% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | -0.11% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | -0.13% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | -0.14% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | -0.16% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | -0.19% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 0.02% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | -0.01% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 0.05% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 0.11% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 0.06% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 0.009% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 0.03% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 0.21% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 0.23% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 0.24% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 0.17% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 0.18% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 0.27% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 0.24% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 0.23% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 0.23% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 0.28% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 0.32% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 0.37% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 0.39% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 0.33% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 0.42% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 0.48% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 0.53% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 0.63% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 0.65% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 0.73% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 0.79% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 0.85% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 0.91% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 0.97% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 1.08% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 1.28% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 1.34% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 1.42% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 1.41% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 2.22% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 1.16% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 1.2% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 1.13% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 1.04% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 0.92% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 1.08% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 1.05% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 0.93% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 0.9% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Japan
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
122704252
|
17620
|
| Population rank | 12/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 1.48% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
52 seconds
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
44.6 seconds
|
1.93 days
|
| One death every |
19.1 seconds
|
1.76 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | -1,667 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | -608,637 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.49% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 183/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.75 minutes
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +140,579 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 10/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,409,529 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 19/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.8% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 120/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 140,579 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | -942,213 | 153,357 | -18 | -14 |
| 2023 | -871,617 | 175,003 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | -825,825 | 175,003 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | -640,976 | -34,996 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | -542,923 | 42,001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | -531,858 | 318,190 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | -456,520 | 320,601 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | -406,310 | 322,564 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | -343,106 | 314,732 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | -292,424 | 168,896 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | -267,279 | 58,109 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | -242,146 | 66,449 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | -229,733 | 67,904 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | -204,533 | 97,720 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | -128,070 | 131,860 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | -76,828 | 125,450 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | -51,225 | 142,605 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | -25,600 | 138,024 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 12,785 | 130,065 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | -25,554 | 113,017 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 76,656 | 69,014 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 114,946 | 74,875 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 178,423 | 60,864 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 203,438 | 59,563 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 228,317 | 23,468 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 202,610 | 56,901 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 265,440 | 45,912 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 277,325 | 43,366 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 314,392 | 25,030 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 276,039 | 87,714 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 363,017 | 154,214 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 312,073 | 168,836 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 360,833 | 170,878 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 396,685 | 161,331 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 407,478 | 124,582 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 467,662 | 31,202 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 527,085 | 51,154 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 598,138 | 28,001 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 631,706 | 27,987 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 676,687 | -141,323 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 756,523 | -273,686 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 775,495 | -269,755 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 805,664 | -288,550 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 811,861 | -278,525 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 864,372 | -92,314 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 950,298 | -57,692 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 1,011,234 | -47,996 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 1,070,397 | -49,082 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 1,127,750 | -34,976 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 1,204,989 | 107 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 1,332,960 | -10,145 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 1,391,449 | -34,674 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 1,372,006 | -73,980 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 1,331,782 | -107,778 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 1,230,496 | 33,731 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 1,195,962 | 49,447 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 1,191,930 | 43,593 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 1,258,475 | 29,632 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 682,072 | 68,934 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 1,126,448 | -50,667 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 1,046,553 | -100,696 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 987,770 | -100,742 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 901,864 | -57,075 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 893,522 | -58,882 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 894,874 | -150,371 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/japan/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).
As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Japan and Palau
|
Japan
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 85.1 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 48.5 years | 38.7 years |
| Median age | 50.8 years | 39.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 53.8:46.2 |
| Fertility rate | 1.15 births per woman | 1.88 births per woman |
| Population density | 872 ppl/mi² | 99.2 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, 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.