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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 143,513,328 people in Russia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 142,643,173 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 1.72% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs -0.05% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Russia has declined from 143M to 143M (0.28% decline).

Japan vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Russia
2100 76,995,942 125,631,984
2099 77,380,486 125,735,285
2098 77,759,557 125,835,990
2097 78,135,569 125,914,480
2096 78,515,892 126,004,709
2095 78,892,606 126,072,890
2094 79,267,768 126,125,529
2093 79,645,584 126,181,074
2092 80,025,578 126,256,091
2091 80,401,222 126,304,823
2090 80,778,500 126,360,262
2089 81,158,413 126,412,664
2088 81,539,639 126,463,022
2087 81,926,401 126,511,263
2086 82,322,612 126,579,534
2085 82,727,738 126,655,806
2084 83,141,354 126,730,694
2083 83,562,394 126,805,713
2082 83,998,809 126,889,471
2081 84,447,888 126,973,300
2080 84,918,455 127,070,546
2079 85,406,042 127,191,346
2078 85,916,840 127,331,975
2077 86,453,316 127,489,152
2076 87,012,155 127,641,749
2075 87,597,053 127,825,235
2074 88,209,803 128,023,096
2073 88,854,316 128,238,922
2072 89,519,055 128,465,870
2071 90,204,314 128,745,681
2070 90,919,143 129,020,076
2069 91,645,589 129,309,803
2068 92,388,299 129,589,275
2067 93,133,993 129,873,991
2066 93,889,902 130,184,092
2065 94,654,259 130,515,828
2064 95,412,429 130,852,649
2063 96,169,244 131,199,458
2062 96,924,236 131,530,725
2061 97,675,525 131,881,030
2060 98,422,553 132,209,377
2059 99,166,038 132,568,882
2058 99,890,950 132,933,515
2057 100,607,740 133,272,997
2056 101,318,164 133,615,325
2055 102,012,184 133,963,055
2054 102,706,063 134,288,366
2053 103,381,833 134,609,198
2052 104,059,800 134,876,558
2051 104,729,745 135,141,211
2050 105,400,477 135,386,454
2049 106,076,354 135,609,441
2048 106,754,699 135,818,840
2047 107,442,881 136,013,698
2046 108,139,155 136,185,098
2045 108,844,934 136,368,416
2044 109,553,441 136,568,234
2043 110,269,851 136,791,498
2042 110,992,599 137,015,033
2041 111,729,216 137,266,491
2040 112,463,507 137,531,851
2039 113,200,859 137,833,822
2038 113,940,856 138,146,863
2037 114,687,611 138,485,780
2036 115,436,359 138,835,731
2035 116,187,949 139,197,452
2034 116,936,734 139,573,272
2033 117,678,572 139,960,175
2032 118,419,247 140,359,785
2031 119,153,646 140,785,026
2030 119,882,512 141,182,418
2029 120,600,781 141,571,268
2028 121,314,239 141,946,979
2027 122,015,984 142,315,155
2026 122,704,252 142,643,173
2025 123,366,734 143,513,328
2024 123,975,371 143,669,648
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Russia's population decreased by 2,372,287 people (a 1.64% 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 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 135,386,454 people and rank change from 9th to 13th.

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 -0.49% -0.11%
2024 -0.43% -0.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Russia's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Japan Russia
Current population
122704252
142643173
Population rank 12/197 9/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 1.72%
One net population change
52 seconds
3.37 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
26.1 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
17.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,667 -428
Annual growth/decline -608,637 -156,320
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 166/197
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 -942,213 153,357 -574,678 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/russia | 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 Russia 55.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 4,019,903 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,169,086 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 (1960–2025, 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/russia | 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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