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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 9,092,436 people in Switzerland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 9,155,878 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 13.4 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 99th.
  • The countries together account for 1.59% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.96% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.16M (22.3% growth).

Japan vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Switzerland
2100 76,995,942 9,273,514
2099 77,380,486 9,265,656
2098 77,759,557 9,259,266
2097 78,135,569 9,251,854
2096 78,515,892 9,248,107
2095 78,892,606 9,242,564
2094 79,267,768 9,238,163
2093 79,645,584 9,235,730
2092 80,025,578 9,233,129
2091 80,401,222 9,230,180
2090 80,778,500 9,228,148
2089 81,158,413 9,227,779
2088 81,539,639 9,229,133
2087 81,926,401 9,228,792
2086 82,322,612 9,230,530
2085 82,727,738 9,234,782
2084 83,141,354 9,239,056
2083 83,562,394 9,244,001
2082 83,998,809 9,249,813
2081 84,447,888 9,256,210
2080 84,918,455 9,262,647
2079 85,406,042 9,270,123
2078 85,916,840 9,276,881
2077 86,453,316 9,284,565
2076 87,012,155 9,289,534
2075 87,597,053 9,295,062
2074 88,209,803 9,305,809
2073 88,854,316 9,314,832
2072 89,519,055 9,322,610
2071 90,204,314 9,332,380
2070 90,919,143 9,343,357
2069 91,645,589 9,351,483
2068 92,388,299 9,359,919
2067 93,133,993 9,367,355
2066 93,889,902 9,379,120
2065 94,654,259 9,391,197
2064 95,412,429 9,402,175
2063 96,169,244 9,412,246
2062 96,924,236 9,423,109
2061 97,675,525 9,434,937
2060 98,422,553 9,443,858
2059 99,166,038 9,454,223
2058 99,890,950 9,462,577
2057 100,607,740 9,468,254
2056 101,318,164 9,475,514
2055 102,012,184 9,483,998
2054 102,706,063 9,491,408
2053 103,381,833 9,496,551
2052 104,059,800 9,496,579
2051 104,729,745 9,496,556
2050 105,400,477 9,494,698
2049 106,076,354 9,491,222
2048 106,754,699 9,484,200
2047 107,442,881 9,477,140
2046 108,139,155 9,471,007
2045 108,844,934 9,465,183
2044 109,553,441 9,458,151
2043 110,269,851 9,450,730
2042 110,992,599 9,440,733
2041 111,729,216 9,433,753
2040 112,463,507 9,422,510
2039 113,200,859 9,413,795
2038 113,940,856 9,404,803
2037 114,687,611 9,393,982
2036 115,436,359 9,382,127
2035 116,187,949 9,368,526
2034 116,936,734 9,351,603
2033 117,678,572 9,334,357
2032 118,419,247 9,315,617
2031 119,153,646 9,292,331
2030 119,882,512 9,267,380
2029 120,600,781 9,240,823
2028 121,314,239 9,209,567
2027 122,015,984 9,174,540
2026 122,704,252 9,136,169
2025 123,366,734 9,092,436
2024 123,975,371 9,005,582
2023 124,516,650 8,888,822
2022 125,124,989 8,777,088
2021 125,681,593 8,704,546
2020 126,261,000 8,638,167
2019 126,633,000 8,575,280
2018 126,811,000 8,514,329
2017 126,972,000 8,451,840
2016 127,076,000 8,373,338
2015 127,141,000 8,282,396
2014 127,276,000 8,188,649
2013 127,445,000 8,089,346
2012 127,629,000 7,996,861
2011 127,833,000 7,912,398
2010 128,070,000 7,824,909
2009 128,047,000 7,743,831
2008 128,063,000 7,647,675
2007 128,001,000 7,551,117
2006 127,854,000 7,483,934
2005 127,773,000 7,437,115
2004 127,761,000 7,389,625
2003 127,718,000 7,339,001
2002 127,445,000 7,284,753
2001 127,149,000 7,229,854
2000 126,843,000 7,184,250
1999 126,631,000 7,143,991
1998 126,400,000 7,110,001
1997 126,057,000 7,088,906
1996 125,757,000 7,071,850
1995 125,472,000 7,040,687
1994 125,178,000 6,993,795
1993 124,829,000 6,938,265
1992 124,425,000 6,875,364
1991 123,964,000 6,799,978
1990 123,478,000 6,715,519
1989 123,069,000 6,646,912
1988 122,578,000 6,593,386
1987 122,069,000 6,545,106
1986 121,482,000 6,504,124
1985 120,837,000 6,470,365
1984 120,083,000 6,441,865
1983 119,307,000 6,418,773
1982 118,480,000 6,391,309
1981 117,661,000 6,354,074
1980 116,807,000 6,319,408
1979 115,890,000 6,294,365
1978 114,913,000 6,281,738
1977 113,872,000 6,281,174
1976 112,775,000 6,302,504
1975 111,573,000 6,338,632
1974 110,162,000 6,341,405
1973 108,707,000 6,307,347
1972 107,188,000 6,260,956
1971 105,697,000 6,213,399
1970 103,403,000 6,180,877
1969 102,219,000 6,136,387
1968 101,011,000 6,067,714
1967 99,879,000 5,991,785
1966 98,851,000 5,918,002
1965 97,952,000 5,856,472
1964 96,903,000 5,789,228
1963 95,900,000 5,694,247
1962 94,933,000 5,573,815
1961 94,055,000 5,434,294
1960 93,216,000 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Switzerland's population increased by 782,540 people (a 9.35% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 99th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.7% to 9,494,698 people and rank change from 99th to 102nd.

Switzerland is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 9.5M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Switzerland
2100 -0.5% 0.08%
2099 -0.49% 0.07%
2098 -0.48% 0.08%
2097 -0.48% 0.04%
2096 -0.48% 0.06%
2095 -0.47% 0.05%
2094 -0.47% 0.03%
2093 -0.47% 0.03%
2092 -0.47% 0.03%
2091 -0.47% 0.02%
2090 -0.47% 0.004%
2089 -0.47% -0.01%
2088 -0.47% 0.004%
2087 -0.48% -0.02%
2086 -0.49% -0.05%
2085 -0.5% -0.05%
2084 -0.5% -0.05%
2083 -0.52% -0.06%
2082 -0.53% -0.07%
2081 -0.55% -0.07%
2080 -0.57% -0.08%
2079 -0.59% -0.07%
2078 -0.62% -0.08%
2077 -0.64% -0.05%
2076 -0.67% -0.06%
2075 -0.69% -0.12%
2074 -0.73% -0.1%
2073 -0.74% -0.08%
2072 -0.76% -0.1%
2071 -0.79% -0.12%
2070 -0.79% -0.09%
2069 -0.8% -0.09%
2068 -0.8% -0.08%
2067 -0.81% -0.13%
2066 -0.81% -0.13%
2065 -0.79% -0.12%
2064 -0.79% -0.11%
2063 -0.78% -0.12%
2062 -0.77% -0.13%
2061 -0.76% -0.09%
2060 -0.75% -0.11%
2059 -0.73% -0.09%
2058 -0.71% -0.06%
2057 -0.7% -0.08%
2056 -0.68% -0.09%
2055 -0.68% -0.08%
2054 -0.65% -0.05%
2053 -0.65% -0%
2052 -0.64% 0%
2051 -0.64% 0.02%
2050 -0.64% 0.04%
2049 -0.64% 0.07%
2048 -0.64% 0.07%
2047 -0.64% 0.06%
2046 -0.65% 0.06%
2045 -0.65% 0.07%
2044 -0.65% 0.08%
2043 -0.65% 0.11%
2042 -0.66% 0.07%
2041 -0.65% 0.12%
2040 -0.65% 0.09%
2039 -0.65% 0.1%
2038 -0.65% 0.12%
2037 -0.65% 0.13%
2036 -0.65% 0.15%
2035 -0.64% 0.18%
2034 -0.63% 0.18%
2033 -0.63% 0.2%
2032 -0.62% 0.25%
2031 -0.61% 0.27%
2030 -0.6% 0.29%
2029 -0.59% 0.34%
2028 -0.58% 0.38%
2027 -0.56% 0.42%
2026 -0.54% 0.48%
2025 -0.49% 0.96%
2024 -0.43% 1.31%
2023 -0.49% 1.27%
2022 -0.44% 0.83%
2021 -0.46% 0.77%
2020 -0.29% 0.73%
2019 -0.14% 0.72%
2018 -0.13% 0.74%
2017 -0.08% 0.94%
2016 -0.05% 1.1%
2015 -0.11% 1.14%
2014 -0.13% 1.23%
2013 -0.14% 1.16%
2012 -0.16% 1.07%
2011 -0.19% 1.12%
2010 0.02% 1.05%
2009 -0.01% 1.26%
2008 0.05% 1.28%
2007 0.11% 0.9%
2006 0.06% 0.63%
2005 0.009% 0.64%
2004 0.03% 0.69%
2003 0.21% 0.74%
2002 0.23% 0.76%
2001 0.24% 0.63%
2000 0.17% 0.56%
1999 0.18% 0.48%
1998 0.27% 0.3%
1997 0.24% 0.24%
1996 0.23% 0.44%
1995 0.23% 0.67%
1994 0.28% 0.8%
1993 0.32% 0.91%
1992 0.37% 1.11%
1991 0.39% 1.26%
1990 0.33% 1.03%
1989 0.4% 0.81%
1988 0.42% 0.74%
1987 0.48% 0.63%
1986 0.53% 0.52%
1985 0.63% 0.44%
1984 0.65% 0.36%
1983 0.7% 0.43%
1982 0.7% 0.59%
1981 0.73% 0.55%
1980 0.79% 0.4%
1979 0.85% 0.2%
1978 0.91% 0.009%
1977 0.97% -0.34%
1976 1.08% -0.57%
1975 1.28% -0.04%
1974 1.34% 0.54%
1973 1.42% 0.74%
1972 1.41% 0.77%
1971 2.22% 0.53%
1970 1.16% 0.73%
1969 1.2% 1.13%
1968 1.13% 1.27%
1967 1.04% 1.25%
1966 0.92% 1.05%
1965 1.08% 1.16%
1964 1.05% 1.67%
1963 1.02% 2.16%
1962 0.93% 2.57%
1961 0.9% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Switzerland's population grew by 0.96%.

Live population counters

Japan Switzerland
Current population
122704252
9155878
Population rank 12/197 99/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.11%
One net population change
52 seconds
6.07 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
6.71 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +238
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +86,854
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +0.96%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 101/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +37,253
Net migration rank 10/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 37,253
2024 -942,213 153,357 6,304 40,099
2023 -871,617 175,003 8,000 45,098
2022 -825,825 175,003 7,899 96,424
2021 -640,976 -34,996 18,279 50,665
2020 -542,923 42,001 9,502 55,523
2019 -531,858 318,190 18,008 44,517
2018 -456,520 320,601 20,434 41,253
2017 -406,310 322,564 20,284 45,658
2016 -343,106 314,732 22,608 71,009
2015 -292,424 168,896 19,050 71,876
2014 -267,279 58,109 21,290 78,122
2013 -242,146 66,449 17,797 83,823
2012 -229,733 67,904 18,393 67,840
2011 -204,533 97,720 18,990 67,194
2010 -128,070 131,860 17,997 76,388
2009 -76,828 125,450 15,487 69,324
2008 -51,225 142,605 15,295 94,430
2007 -25,600 138,024 13,592 72,475
2006 12,785 130,065 12,723 37,308
2005 -25,554 113,017 11,899 33,203
2004 76,656 69,014 13,302 39,484
2003 114,946 74,875 8,807 42,567
2002 178,423 60,864 10,199 49,650
2001 203,438 59,563 10,845 35,420
2000 228,317 23,468 15,806 24,463
1999 202,610 56,901 16,431 25,599
1998 265,440 45,912 16,353 11,325
1997 277,325 43,366 17,722 -1,939
1996 314,392 25,030 19,801 -131
1995 276,039 87,714 19,010 25,343
1994 363,017 154,214 20,982 30,274
1993 312,073 168,836 21,509 40,267
1992 360,833 170,878 24,064 42,014
1991 396,685 161,331 23,800 69,738
1990 407,478 124,582 20,146 58,428
1989 467,662 31,202 19,941 34,432
1988 527,085 51,154 21,099 34,602
1987 598,138 28,001 15,708 27,081
1986 631,706 27,987 16,261 23,242
1985 676,687 -141,323 14,882 14,402
1984 756,523 -273,686 16,105 12,532
1983 775,495 -269,755 12,837 5,663
1982 805,664 -288,550 15,339 21,929
1981 811,861 -278,525 13,979 24,229
1980 864,372 -92,314 14,535 17,841
1979 950,298 -57,692 14,477 4,262
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 13,820 -6,552
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 16,959 -22,516
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 17,017 -54,255
1975 1,204,989 107 22,820 -58,187
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 27,902 2,008
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 30,906 8,158
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 35,061 19,991
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 38,523 2,636
1970 1,230,496 33,731 42,648 -18,326
1969 1,195,962 49,447 44,182 20,754
1968 1,191,930 43,593 47,328 25,828
1967 1,258,475 29,632 52,128 27,697
1966 682,072 68,934 53,854 14,979
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 56,222 -1,351
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 59,050 21,455
1963 987,770 -100,742 52,956 58,415
1962 901,864 -57,075 49,050 82,798
1961 893,522 -58,882 48,365 101,278
1960 894,874 -150,371 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 150,368 people) and 78.9% is from migration (a gain of 562,122 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 452K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 120K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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