Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 2.51 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 -0.25% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Japan vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Spain
2100 76,978,998 33,862,981
2099 77,363,458 34,039,965
2098 77,742,445 34,215,187
2097 78,118,375 34,387,116
2096 78,498,614 34,552,002
2095 78,875,245 34,719,411
2094 79,250,325 34,882,039
2093 79,628,057 35,044,043
2092 80,007,967 35,204,657
2091 80,383,529 35,366,895
2090 80,760,724 35,535,838
2089 81,140,553 35,707,942
2088 81,521,696 35,877,681
2087 81,908,373 36,043,209
2086 82,304,497 36,210,710
2085 82,709,534 36,386,207
2084 83,123,058 36,564,622
2083 83,544,006 36,749,680
2082 83,980,325 36,936,644
2081 84,429,305 37,133,976
2080 84,899,768 37,337,517
2079 85,387,247 37,551,557
2078 85,897,934 37,771,135
2077 86,434,291 38,002,963
2076 86,993,007 38,249,247
2075 87,577,777 38,506,040
2074 88,190,392 38,777,715
2073 88,834,763 39,056,249
2072 89,499,356 39,348,447
2071 90,184,464 39,642,346
2070 90,899,136 39,949,413
2069 91,625,421 40,256,590
2068 92,367,969 40,575,543
2067 93,113,499 40,893,798
2066 93,869,240 41,218,263
2065 94,633,430 41,543,254
2064 95,391,433 41,878,338
2063 96,148,081 42,208,320
2062 96,902,907 42,542,893
2061 97,654,031 42,874,096
2060 98,400,894 43,191,452
2059 99,144,216 43,506,737
2058 99,868,968 43,809,907
2057 100,585,601 44,112,668
2056 101,295,868 44,415,689
2055 101,989,736 44,691,749
2054 102,683,462 44,958,971
2053 103,359,083 45,223,225
2052 104,036,901 45,470,541
2051 104,706,698 45,695,307
2050 105,377,283 45,911,520
2049 106,053,011 46,127,777
2048 106,731,207 46,322,244
2047 107,419,237 46,510,152
2046 108,115,358 46,687,914
2045 108,820,982 46,858,778
2044 109,529,333 47,016,278
2043 110,245,586 47,158,325
2042 110,968,174 47,301,091
2041 111,704,629 47,434,593
2040 112,438,759 47,563,236
2039 113,175,948 47,685,343
2038 113,915,783 47,798,797
2037 114,662,374 47,910,899
2036 115,410,956 48,020,350
2035 116,162,381 48,124,430
2034 116,911,001 48,220,051
2033 117,652,676 48,311,842
2032 118,393,188 48,402,470
2031 119,127,425 48,495,278
2030 119,856,131 48,579,920
2029 120,574,242 48,648,699
2028 121,287,543 48,707,969
2027 121,989,133 48,758,200
2026 122,677,250 48,806,901
2025 123,339,586 48,838,057
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% 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 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

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 -0.51% -0.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Japan Spain
Current population
122677250
48806901
Population rank 12/197 32/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.59%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +1,360
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 100/197
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 - 153,357 - 111,674
2023 -871,617 175,003 -111,211 119,099
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 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 (1960–2024, 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/spain | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

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.