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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 6,959 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 -0.25% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Japan vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Palau
2100 76,978,998 11,152
2099 77,363,458 11,216
2098 77,742,445 11,281
2097 78,118,375 11,352
2096 78,498,614 11,417
2095 78,875,245 11,485
2094 79,250,325 11,549
2093 79,628,057 11,616
2092 80,007,967 11,682
2091 80,383,529 11,753
2090 80,760,724 11,829
2089 81,140,553 11,907
2088 81,521,696 11,968
2087 81,908,373 12,040
2086 82,304,497 12,109
2085 82,709,534 12,171
2084 83,123,058 12,251
2083 83,544,006 12,316
2082 83,980,325 12,382
2081 84,429,305 12,457
2080 84,899,768 12,537
2079 85,387,247 12,608
2078 85,897,934 12,681
2077 86,434,291 12,758
2076 86,993,007 12,838
2075 87,577,777 12,914
2074 88,190,392 13,007
2073 88,834,763 13,091
2072 89,499,356 13,161
2071 90,184,464 13,252
2070 90,899,136 13,338
2069 91,625,421 13,430
2068 92,367,969 13,525
2067 93,113,499 13,621
2066 93,869,240 13,723
2065 94,633,430 13,818
2064 95,391,433 13,920
2063 96,148,081 14,025
2062 96,902,907 14,136
2061 97,654,031 14,251
2060 98,400,894 14,358
2059 99,144,216 14,479
2058 99,868,968 14,589
2057 100,585,601 14,718
2056 101,295,868 14,837
2055 101,989,736 14,961
2054 102,683,462 15,084
2053 103,359,083 15,206
2052 104,036,901 15,332
2051 104,706,698 15,453
2050 105,377,283 15,562
2049 106,053,011 15,682
2048 106,731,207 15,797
2047 107,419,237 15,912
2046 108,115,358 16,024
2045 108,820,982 16,132
2044 109,529,333 16,245
2043 110,245,586 16,339
2042 110,968,174 16,445
2041 111,704,629 16,549
2040 112,438,759 16,631
2039 113,175,948 16,727
2038 113,915,783 16,805
2037 114,662,374 16,895
2036 115,410,956 16,964
2035 116,162,381 17,042
2034 116,911,001 17,118
2033 117,652,676 17,190
2032 118,393,188 17,250
2031 119,127,425 17,330
2030 119,856,131 17,398
2029 120,574,242 17,457
2028 121,287,543 17,527
2027 121,989,133 17,576
2026 122,677,250 17,629
2025 123,339,586 17,672
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% 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 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 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

Japan
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
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 -0.51% -0.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/palau | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Japan Palau
Current population
122677250
17629
Population rank 12/197 194/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.0002%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1.63 weeks
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.89 days
One death every
19.5 seconds
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +0
Annual growth/decline -541,279 -32
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 175/197
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

Japan
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -16
2024 - 153,357 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 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

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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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