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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 2.49 times bigger than Spain's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 2.07% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Japan vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Spain
2100 76,995,942 34,221,514
2099 77,380,486 34,400,373
2098 77,759,557 34,577,450
2097 78,135,569 34,751,199
2096 78,515,892 34,917,831
2095 78,892,606 35,087,012
2094 79,267,768 35,251,362
2093 79,645,584 35,415,082
2092 80,025,578 35,577,396
2091 80,401,222 35,741,351
2090 80,778,500 35,912,083
2089 81,158,413 36,086,009
2088 81,539,639 36,257,546
2087 81,926,401 36,424,826
2086 82,322,612 36,594,101
2085 82,727,738 36,771,456
2084 83,141,354 36,951,760
2083 83,562,394 37,138,777
2082 83,998,809 37,327,720
2081 84,447,888 37,527,142
2080 84,918,455 37,732,838
2079 85,406,042 37,949,144
2078 85,916,840 38,171,047
2077 86,453,316 38,405,329
2076 87,012,155 38,654,221
2075 87,597,053 38,913,733
2074 88,209,803 39,188,284
2073 88,854,316 39,469,767
2072 89,519,055 39,765,059
2071 90,204,314 40,062,070
2070 90,919,143 40,372,388
2069 91,645,589 40,682,818
2068 92,388,299 41,005,148
2067 93,133,993 41,326,772
2066 93,889,902 41,654,672
2065 94,654,259 41,983,104
2064 95,412,429 42,321,736
2063 96,169,244 42,655,212
2062 96,924,236 42,993,328
2061 97,675,525 43,328,037
2060 98,422,553 43,648,753
2059 99,166,038 43,967,376
2058 99,890,950 44,273,756
2057 100,607,740 44,579,723
2056 101,318,164 44,885,952
2055 102,012,184 45,164,935
2054 102,706,063 45,434,986
2053 103,381,833 45,702,038
2052 104,059,800 45,951,973
2051 104,729,745 46,179,119
2050 105,400,477 46,397,620
2049 106,076,354 46,616,167
2048 106,754,699 46,812,693
2047 107,442,881 47,002,591
2046 108,139,155 47,182,235
2045 108,844,934 47,354,908
2044 109,553,441 47,514,076
2043 110,269,851 47,657,627
2042 110,992,599 47,801,904
2041 111,729,216 47,936,819
2040 112,463,507 48,066,825
2039 113,200,859 48,190,225
2038 113,940,856 48,304,880
2037 114,687,611 48,418,168
2036 115,436,359 48,528,778
2035 116,187,949 48,633,960
2034 116,936,734 48,730,594
2033 117,678,572 48,823,356
2032 118,419,247 48,914,944
2031 119,153,646 49,008,735
2030 119,882,512 49,094,273
2029 120,600,781 49,163,780
2028 121,314,239 49,223,677
2027 122,015,984 49,274,441
2026 122,704,252 49,323,658
2025 123,366,734 49,355,143
2024 123,975,371 48,848,840
2023 124,516,650 48,352,528
2022 125,124,989 47,786,102
2021 125,681,593 47,443,821
2020 126,261,000 47,359,424
2019 126,633,000 47,118,501
2018 126,811,000 46,782,011
2017 126,972,000 46,571,232
2016 127,076,000 46,458,139
2015 127,141,000 46,422,303
2014 127,276,000 46,460,733
2013 127,445,000 46,604,197
2012 127,629,000 46,773,055
2011 127,833,000 46,742,697
2010 128,070,000 46,576,897
2009 128,047,000 46,362,946
2008 128,063,000 45,954,106
2007 128,001,000 45,226,803
2006 127,854,000 44,397,319
2005 127,773,000 43,653,155
2004 127,761,000 42,921,895
2003 127,718,000 42,187,645
2002 127,445,000 41,431,558
2001 127,149,000 40,850,412
2000 126,843,000 40,567,864
1999 126,631,000 40,386,875
1998 126,400,000 40,223,509
1997 126,057,000 40,057,389
1996 125,757,000 39,889,852
1995 125,472,000 39,724,050
1994 125,178,000 39,549,108
1993 124,829,000 39,361,262
1992 124,425,000 39,157,685
1991 123,964,000 38,966,376
1990 123,478,000 38,867,322
1989 123,069,000 38,827,764
1988 122,578,000 38,766,939
1987 122,069,000 38,684,815
1986 121,482,000 38,584,624
1985 120,837,000 38,469,512
1984 120,083,000 38,330,364
1983 119,307,000 38,171,525
1982 118,480,000 37,986,012
1981 117,661,000 37,758,631
1980 116,807,000 37,491,165
1979 115,890,000 37,191,330
1978 114,913,000 36,864,898
1977 113,872,000 36,511,638
1976 112,775,000 36,137,812
1975 111,573,000 35,757,900
1974 110,162,000 35,373,335
1973 108,707,000 34,988,947
1972 107,188,000 34,604,469
1971 105,697,000 34,224,490
1970 103,403,000 33,814,531
1969 102,219,000 33,441,054
1968 101,011,000 33,113,134
1967 99,879,000 32,682,947
1966 98,851,000 32,283,194
1965 97,952,000 31,954,292
1964 96,903,000 31,609,195
1963 95,900,000 31,296,651
1962 94,933,000 31,023,366
1961 94,055,000 30,739,250
1960 93,216,000 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 29.1% of the population in Japan and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Spain
2100 -0.5% -0.52%
2099 -0.49% -0.51%
2098 -0.48% -0.5%
2097 -0.48% -0.48%
2096 -0.48% -0.48%
2095 -0.47% -0.47%
2094 -0.47% -0.46%
2093 -0.47% -0.46%
2092 -0.47% -0.46%
2091 -0.47% -0.48%
2090 -0.47% -0.48%
2089 -0.47% -0.47%
2088 -0.47% -0.46%
2087 -0.48% -0.46%
2086 -0.49% -0.48%
2085 -0.5% -0.49%
2084 -0.5% -0.5%
2083 -0.52% -0.51%
2082 -0.53% -0.53%
2081 -0.55% -0.55%
2080 -0.57% -0.57%
2079 -0.59% -0.58%
2078 -0.62% -0.61%
2077 -0.64% -0.64%
2076 -0.67% -0.67%
2075 -0.69% -0.7%
2074 -0.73% -0.71%
2073 -0.74% -0.74%
2072 -0.76% -0.74%
2071 -0.79% -0.77%
2070 -0.79% -0.76%
2069 -0.8% -0.79%
2068 -0.8% -0.78%
2067 -0.81% -0.79%
2066 -0.81% -0.78%
2065 -0.79% -0.8%
2064 -0.79% -0.78%
2063 -0.78% -0.79%
2062 -0.77% -0.77%
2061 -0.76% -0.73%
2060 -0.75% -0.72%
2059 -0.73% -0.69%
2058 -0.71% -0.69%
2057 -0.7% -0.68%
2056 -0.68% -0.62%
2055 -0.68% -0.59%
2054 -0.65% -0.58%
2053 -0.65% -0.54%
2052 -0.64% -0.49%
2051 -0.64% -0.47%
2050 -0.64% -0.47%
2049 -0.64% -0.42%
2048 -0.64% -0.4%
2047 -0.64% -0.38%
2046 -0.65% -0.36%
2045 -0.65% -0.33%
2044 -0.65% -0.3%
2043 -0.65% -0.3%
2042 -0.66% -0.28%
2041 -0.65% -0.27%
2040 -0.65% -0.26%
2039 -0.65% -0.24%
2038 -0.65% -0.23%
2037 -0.65% -0.23%
2036 -0.65% -0.22%
2035 -0.64% -0.2%
2034 -0.63% -0.19%
2033 -0.63% -0.19%
2032 -0.62% -0.19%
2031 -0.61% -0.17%
2030 -0.6% -0.14%
2029 -0.59% -0.12%
2028 -0.58% -0.1%
2027 -0.56% -0.1%
2026 -0.54% -0.06%
2025 -0.49% 1.04%
2024 -0.43% 1.03%
2023 -0.49% 1.19%
2022 -0.44% 0.72%
2021 -0.46% 0.18%
2020 -0.29% 0.51%
2019 -0.14% 0.72%
2018 -0.13% 0.45%
2017 -0.08% 0.24%
2016 -0.05% 0.08%
2015 -0.11% -0.08%
2014 -0.13% -0.31%
2013 -0.14% -0.36%
2012 -0.16% 0.06%
2011 -0.19% 0.36%
2010 0.02% 0.46%
2009 -0.01% 0.89%
2008 0.05% 1.61%
2007 0.11% 1.87%
2006 0.06% 1.7%
2005 0.009% 1.7%
2004 0.03% 1.74%
2003 0.21% 1.82%
2002 0.23% 1.42%
2001 0.24% 0.7%
2000 0.17% 0.45%
1999 0.18% 0.41%
1998 0.27% 0.41%
1997 0.24% 0.42%
1996 0.23% 0.42%
1995 0.23% 0.44%
1994 0.28% 0.48%
1993 0.32% 0.52%
1992 0.37% 0.49%
1991 0.39% 0.25%
1990 0.33% 0.1%
1989 0.4% 0.16%
1988 0.42% 0.21%
1987 0.48% 0.26%
1986 0.53% 0.3%
1985 0.63% 0.36%
1984 0.65% 0.42%
1983 0.7% 0.49%
1982 0.7% 0.6%
1981 0.73% 0.71%
1980 0.79% 0.81%
1979 0.85% 0.89%
1978 0.91% 0.97%
1977 0.97% 1.03%
1976 1.08% 1.06%
1975 1.28% 1.09%
1974 1.34% 1.1%
1973 1.42% 1.11%
1972 1.41% 1.11%
1971 2.22% 1.21%
1970 1.16% 1.12%
1969 1.2% 0.99%
1968 1.13% 1.32%
1967 1.04% 1.24%
1966 0.92% 1.03%
1965 1.08% 1.09%
1964 1.05% 1%
1963 1.02% 0.88%
1962 0.93% 0.92%
1961 0.9% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

Japan Spain
Current population
122704252
49323658
Population rank 12/197 32/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.59%
One net population change
52 seconds
1.04 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
1.66 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +1,387
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 98/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +96,630
Net migration rank 10/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 96,630
2024 -942,213 153,357 -117,237 111,674
2023 -871,617 175,003 -116,046 119,099
2022 -825,825 175,003 -133,801 299,779
2021 -640,976 -34,996 -113,865 144,385
2020 -542,923 42,001 -151,551 236,854
2019 -531,858 318,190 -56,542 464,783
2018 -456,520 320,601 -56,139 337,467
2017 -406,310 322,564 -32,600 201,135
2016 -343,106 314,732 0 106,474
2015 -292,424 168,896 -4,642 -1,979
2014 -267,279 58,109 32,522 -97,870
2013 -242,146 66,449 37,284 -250,741
2012 -229,733 67,904 51,450 -153,486
2011 -204,533 97,720 84,137 60,761
2010 -128,070 131,860 102,469 69,406
2009 -76,828 125,450 106,635 129,557
2008 -51,225 142,605 133,267 434,135
2007 -25,600 138,024 108,545 772,317
2006 12,785 130,065 110,994 659,720
2005 -25,554 113,017 78,576 629,803
2004 76,656 69,014 85,844 661,158
2003 114,946 74,875 54,844 658,428
2002 178,423 60,864 53,861 737,880
2001 203,438 59,563 44,936 181,307
2000 228,317 23,468 36,512 176,269
1999 202,610 56,901 8,077 178,559
1998 265,440 45,912 4,022 182,926
1997 277,325 43,366 20,028 165,345
1996 314,392 25,030 11,967 162,704
1995 276,039 87,714 15,889 162,434
1994 363,017 154,214 31,639 160,407
1993 312,073 168,836 47,234 160,907
1992 360,833 170,878 62,652 177,544
1991 396,685 161,331 58,450 122,841
1990 407,478 124,582 66,075 -30,684
1989 467,662 31,202 81,538 -25,892
1988 527,085 51,154 100,794 -17,663
1987 598,138 28,001 116,054 -12,681
1986 631,706 27,987 131,188 -13,540
1985 676,687 -141,323 146,184 -589
1984 756,523 -273,686 172,487 2,754
1983 775,495 -269,755 183,223 1,241
1982 805,664 -288,550 231,714 -7,384
1981 811,861 -278,525 237,879 2,563
1980 864,372 -92,314 281,184 20,166
1979 950,298 -57,692 312,407 -5,929
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 339,157 -2,504
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 361,465 -1,332
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 375,834 2,804
1975 1,204,989 107 371,882 -218
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 396,182 105,838
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 374,381 8,624
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 391,030 7,935
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 369,625 7,363
1970 1,230,496 33,731 378,723 -60,580
1969 1,195,962 49,447 367,851 -49,956
1968 1,191,930 43,593 387,423 -46,088
1967 1,258,475 29,632 402,001 -42,344
1966 682,072 68,934 397,084 -41,467
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 405,819 -42,476
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 429,885 -41,461
1963 987,770 -100,742 394,338 -44,446
1962 901,864 -57,075 384,690 -45,211
1961 893,522 -58,882 396,537 -46,517
1960 894,874 -150,371 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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