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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 1.16 times bigger than Japan's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 3.19% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Japan vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Russia
2100 76,978,998 124,983,377
2099 77,363,458 125,086,144
2098 77,742,445 125,186,329
2097 78,118,375 125,264,415
2096 78,498,614 125,354,177
2095 78,875,245 125,422,006
2094 79,250,325 125,474,373
2093 79,628,057 125,529,632
2092 80,007,967 125,604,261
2091 80,383,529 125,652,742
2090 80,760,724 125,707,894
2089 81,140,553 125,760,026
2088 81,521,696 125,810,124
2087 81,908,373 125,858,116
2086 82,304,497 125,926,035
2085 82,709,534 126,001,913
2084 83,123,058 126,076,414
2083 83,544,006 126,151,046
2082 83,980,325 126,234,371
2081 84,429,305 126,317,768
2080 84,899,768 126,414,511
2079 85,387,247 126,534,688
2078 85,897,934 126,674,591
2077 86,434,291 126,830,956
2076 86,993,007 126,982,766
2075 87,577,777 127,165,304
2074 88,190,392 127,362,143
2073 88,834,763 127,576,856
2072 89,499,356 127,802,632
2071 90,184,464 128,080,998
2070 90,899,136 128,353,977
2069 91,625,421 128,642,208
2068 92,367,969 128,920,237
2067 93,113,499 129,203,483
2066 93,869,240 129,511,983
2065 94,633,430 129,842,007
2064 95,391,433 130,177,089
2063 96,148,081 130,522,107
2062 96,902,907 130,851,664
2061 97,654,031 131,200,160
2060 98,400,894 131,526,812
2059 99,144,216 131,884,461
2058 99,868,968 132,247,211
2057 100,585,601 132,584,941
2056 101,295,868 132,925,501
2055 101,989,736 133,271,436
2054 102,683,462 133,595,068
2053 103,359,083 133,914,243
2052 104,036,901 134,180,223
2051 104,706,698 134,443,510
2050 105,377,283 134,687,487
2049 106,053,011 134,909,323
2048 106,731,207 135,117,641
2047 107,419,237 135,311,492
2046 108,115,358 135,482,008
2045 108,820,982 135,664,379
2044 109,529,333 135,863,165
2043 110,245,586 136,085,277
2042 110,968,174 136,307,658
2041 111,704,629 136,557,818
2040 112,438,759 136,821,807
2039 113,175,948 137,122,219
2038 113,915,783 137,433,644
2037 114,662,374 137,770,811
2036 115,410,956 138,118,955
2035 116,162,381 138,478,809
2034 116,911,001 138,852,689
2033 117,652,676 139,237,595
2032 118,393,188 139,635,142
2031 119,127,425 140,058,187
2030 119,856,131 140,453,528
2029 120,574,242 140,840,370
2028 121,287,543 141,214,141
2027 121,989,133 141,580,416
2026 122,677,250 141,906,741
2025 123,339,586 142,772,403
2024 123,975,371 143,533,851
2023 124,516,650 143,826,130
2022 125,124,989 144,236,933
2021 125,681,593 144,746,762
2020 126,261,000 145,245,148
2019 126,633,000 145,453,291
2018 126,811,000 145,398,106
2017 126,972,000 145,293,260
2016 127,076,000 145,015,460
2015 127,141,000 144,640,716
2014 127,276,000 144,237,223
2013 127,445,000 143,805,638
2012 127,629,000 143,378,447
2011 127,833,000 143,018,195
2010 128,070,000 142,849,468
2009 128,047,000 142,785,348
2008 128,063,000 142,742,366
2007 128,001,000 142,805,114
2006 127,854,000 143,049,637
2005 127,773,000 143,518,814
2004 127,761,000 144,067,316
2003 127,718,000 144,648,618
2002 127,445,000 145,306,497
2001 127,149,000 145,976,482
2000 126,843,000 146,596,869
1999 126,631,000 147,214,776
1998 126,400,000 147,670,784
1997 126,057,000 147,915,361
1996 125,757,000 148,160,129
1995 125,472,000 148,375,787
1994 125,178,000 148,407,912
1993 124,829,000 148,458,777
1992 124,425,000 148,538,197
1991 123,964,000 148,394,216
1990 123,478,000 147,969,406
1989 123,069,000 147,721,000
1988 122,578,000 146,857,000
1987 122,069,000 145,908,000
1986 121,482,000 144,894,000
1985 120,837,000 143,858,000
1984 120,083,000 142,745,000
1983 119,307,000 141,668,000
1982 118,480,000 140,823,000
1981 117,661,000 139,941,000
1980 116,807,000 139,010,000
1979 115,890,000 138,027,000
1978 114,913,000 137,060,000
1977 113,872,000 136,100,000
1976 112,775,000 135,147,000
1975 111,573,000 134,200,000
1974 110,162,000 133,432,000
1973 108,707,000 132,669,000
1972 107,188,000 131,909,000
1971 105,697,000 131,155,000
1970 103,403,000 130,404,000
1969 102,219,000 129,664,000
1968 101,011,000 128,928,000
1967 99,879,000 128,196,000
1966 98,851,000 127,468,000
1965 97,952,000 126,745,000
1964 96,903,000 125,345,000
1963 95,900,000 123,960,000
1962 94,933,000 122,591,000
1961 94,055,000 121,236,000
1960 93,216,000 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 29.1% of the population in Japan and 10.5% in Russia.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Russia
2100 -0.5% -0.08%
2099 -0.49% -0.08%
2098 -0.48% -0.06%
2097 -0.48% -0.07%
2096 -0.48% -0.05%
2095 -0.47% -0.04%
2094 -0.47% -0.04%
2093 -0.47% -0.06%
2092 -0.47% -0.04%
2091 -0.47% -0.04%
2090 -0.47% -0.04%
2089 -0.47% -0.04%
2088 -0.47% -0.04%
2087 -0.48% -0.05%
2086 -0.49% -0.06%
2085 -0.5% -0.06%
2084 -0.5% -0.06%
2083 -0.52% -0.07%
2082 -0.53% -0.07%
2081 -0.55% -0.08%
2080 -0.57% -0.09%
2079 -0.59% -0.11%
2078 -0.62% -0.12%
2077 -0.64% -0.12%
2076 -0.67% -0.14%
2075 -0.69% -0.15%
2074 -0.73% -0.17%
2073 -0.74% -0.18%
2072 -0.76% -0.22%
2071 -0.79% -0.21%
2070 -0.79% -0.22%
2069 -0.8% -0.22%
2068 -0.8% -0.22%
2067 -0.81% -0.24%
2066 -0.81% -0.25%
2065 -0.79% -0.26%
2064 -0.79% -0.26%
2063 -0.78% -0.25%
2062 -0.77% -0.27%
2061 -0.76% -0.25%
2060 -0.75% -0.27%
2059 -0.73% -0.27%
2058 -0.71% -0.25%
2057 -0.7% -0.26%
2056 -0.68% -0.26%
2055 -0.68% -0.24%
2054 -0.65% -0.24%
2053 -0.65% -0.2%
2052 -0.64% -0.2%
2051 -0.64% -0.18%
2050 -0.64% -0.16%
2049 -0.64% -0.15%
2048 -0.64% -0.14%
2047 -0.64% -0.13%
2046 -0.65% -0.13%
2045 -0.65% -0.15%
2044 -0.65% -0.16%
2043 -0.65% -0.16%
2042 -0.66% -0.18%
2041 -0.65% -0.19%
2040 -0.65% -0.22%
2039 -0.65% -0.23%
2038 -0.65% -0.24%
2037 -0.65% -0.25%
2036 -0.65% -0.26%
2035 -0.64% -0.27%
2034 -0.63% -0.28%
2033 -0.63% -0.28%
2032 -0.62% -0.3%
2031 -0.61% -0.28%
2030 -0.6% -0.27%
2029 -0.59% -0.26%
2028 -0.58% -0.26%
2027 -0.56% -0.23%
2026 -0.54% -0.61%
2025 -0.51% -0.53%
2024 -0.43% -0.2%
2023 -0.49% -0.28%
2022 -0.44% -0.35%
2021 -0.46% -0.34%
2020 -0.29% -0.14%
2019 -0.14% 0.04%
2018 -0.13% 0.07%
2017 -0.08% 0.19%
2016 -0.05% 0.26%
2015 -0.11% 0.28%
2014 -0.13% 0.3%
2013 -0.14% 0.3%
2012 -0.16% 0.25%
2011 -0.19% 0.12%
2010 0.02% 0.04%
2009 -0.01% 0.03%
2008 0.05% -0.04%
2007 0.11% -0.17%
2006 0.06% -0.33%
2005 0.009% -0.38%
2004 0.03% -0.4%
2003 0.21% -0.45%
2002 0.23% -0.46%
2001 0.24% -0.42%
2000 0.17% -0.42%
1999 0.18% -0.31%
1998 0.27% -0.17%
1997 0.24% -0.17%
1996 0.23% -0.15%
1995 0.23% -0.02%
1994 0.28% -0.03%
1993 0.32% -0.05%
1992 0.37% 0.1%
1991 0.39% 0.29%
1990 0.33% 0.17%
1989 0.4% 0.59%
1988 0.42% 0.65%
1987 0.48% 0.7%
1986 0.53% 0.72%
1985 0.63% 0.78%
1984 0.65% 0.76%
1983 0.7% 0.6%
1982 0.7% 0.63%
1981 0.73% 0.67%
1980 0.79% 0.71%
1979 0.85% 0.71%
1978 0.91% 0.71%
1977 0.97% 0.71%
1976 1.08% 0.71%
1975 1.28% 0.58%
1974 1.34% 0.58%
1973 1.42% 0.58%
1972 1.41% 0.57%
1971 2.22% 0.58%
1970 1.16% 0.57%
1969 1.2% 0.57%
1968 1.13% 0.57%
1967 1.04% 0.57%
1966 0.92% 0.57%
1965 1.08% 1.12%
1964 1.05% 1.12%
1963 1.02% 1.12%
1962 0.93% 1.12%
1961 0.9% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Japan Russia
Current population
122677250
141906741
Population rank 12/197 9/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 1.71%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
19.5 seconds
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,483 -801
Annual growth/decline -541,279 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 177/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -251,822
Net migration rank 10/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -251,822
2024 - 153,357 - -178,042
2023 -871,617 175,003 -503,392 27,807
2022 -825,825 175,003 -576,948 765,629
2021 -640,976 -34,996 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 -542,923 42,001 -697,177 334,094
2019 -531,858 318,190 -319,997 336,494
2018 -456,520 320,601 -232,637 339,972
2017 -406,310 322,564 -130,764 396,619
2016 -343,106 314,732 0 447,645
2015 -292,424 168,896 43,392 384,756
2014 -267,279 58,109 28,848 264,698
2013 -242,146 66,449 28,761 289,872
2012 -229,733 67,904 0 285,977
2011 -204,533 97,720 -128,716 309,377
2010 -128,070 131,860 -242,844 307,555
2009 -76,828 125,450 -257,014 350,206
2008 -51,225 142,605 -356,856 360,840
2007 -25,600 138,024 -471,257 365,717
2006 12,785 130,065 -686,638 308,370
2005 -25,554 113,017 -846,761 263,541
2004 76,656 69,014 -792,370 261,519
2003 114,946 74,875 -896,822 256,804
2002 178,423 60,864 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 203,438 59,563 -963,445 259,614
2000 228,317 23,468 -967,540 550,401
1999 202,610 56,901 -927,453 375,468
1998 265,440 45,912 -694,053 528,135
1997 277,325 43,366 -769,159 541,387
1996 314,392 25,030 -785,248 587,171
1995 276,039 87,714 -845,742 723,875
1994 363,017 154,214 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 312,073 168,836 -757,140 507,229
1992 360,833 170,878 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 396,685 161,331 103,876 125,505
1990 407,478 124,582 325,533 299,863
1989 467,662 31,202 576,112 89,400
1988 527,085 51,154 778,343 269,862
1987 598,138 28,001 977,583 275,611
1986 631,706 27,987 985,279 283,553
1985 676,687 -141,323 762,447 280,614
1984 756,523 -273,686 756,548 247,026
1983 775,495 -269,755 906,676 200,159
1982 805,664 -288,550 830,855 107,520
1981 811,861 -278,525 713,700 36,686
1980 864,372 -92,314 681,149 10,440
1979 950,298 -57,692 690,135 -5,791
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 812,766 108,882
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 832,932 122,316
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 852,237 113,851
1975 1,204,989 107 843,850 80,069
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 883,186 -51,759
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 846,561 -107,568
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 872,050 -111,168
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 854,999 -134,968
1970 1,230,496 33,731 785,554 -264,464
1969 1,195,962 49,447 753,088 -64,643
1968 1,191,930 43,593 787,621 -83,221
1967 1,258,475 29,632 854,554 -116,029
1966 682,072 68,934 989,279 -111,360
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 987,770 -100,742 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 901,864 -57,075 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 893,522 -58,882 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 894,874 -150,371 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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