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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 4.55 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.8% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Japan vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Syria
2100 76,995,942 44,500,028
2099 77,380,486 44,570,009
2098 77,759,557 44,629,837
2097 78,135,569 44,692,566
2096 78,515,892 44,747,012
2095 78,892,606 44,774,686
2094 79,267,768 44,824,294
2093 79,645,584 44,853,295
2092 80,025,578 44,882,700
2091 80,401,222 44,895,349
2090 80,778,500 44,926,869
2089 81,158,413 44,925,891
2088 81,539,639 44,920,667
2087 81,926,401 44,928,298
2086 82,322,612 44,947,658
2085 82,727,738 44,913,669
2084 83,141,354 44,878,845
2083 83,562,394 44,850,592
2082 83,998,809 44,790,014
2081 84,447,888 44,723,244
2080 84,918,455 44,624,321
2079 85,406,042 44,567,127
2078 85,916,840 44,529,618
2077 86,453,316 44,484,155
2076 87,012,155 44,400,339
2075 87,597,053 44,306,882
2074 88,209,803 44,209,517
2073 88,854,316 44,102,028
2072 89,519,055 43,965,642
2071 90,204,314 43,821,617
2070 90,919,143 43,678,154
2069 91,645,589 43,530,683
2068 92,388,299 43,348,487
2067 93,133,993 43,154,741
2066 93,889,902 42,944,885
2065 94,654,259 42,695,249
2064 95,412,429 42,445,036
2063 96,169,244 42,198,056
2062 96,924,236 41,949,014
2061 97,675,525 41,695,586
2060 98,422,553 41,410,547
2059 99,166,038 41,097,942
2058 99,890,950 40,815,606
2057 100,607,740 40,534,091
2056 101,318,164 40,224,053
2055 102,012,184 39,918,930
2054 102,706,063 39,584,624
2053 103,381,833 39,242,144
2052 104,059,800 38,940,206
2051 104,729,745 38,629,604
2050 105,400,477 38,307,069
2049 106,076,354 37,986,965
2048 106,754,699 37,682,780
2047 107,442,881 37,391,752
2046 108,139,155 37,081,479
2045 108,844,934 36,744,441
2044 109,553,441 36,428,225
2043 110,269,851 36,090,851
2042 110,992,599 35,729,021
2041 111,729,216 35,352,033
2040 112,463,507 34,947,817
2039 113,200,859 34,533,772
2038 113,940,856 34,091,760
2037 114,687,611 33,612,993
2036 115,436,359 33,134,445
2035 116,187,949 32,608,669
2034 116,936,734 32,062,309
2033 117,678,572 31,477,500
2032 118,419,247 30,883,996
2031 119,153,646 30,248,264
2030 119,882,512 29,592,787
2029 120,600,781 28,871,638
2028 121,314,239 28,141,821
2027 122,015,984 27,355,002
2026 122,704,252 26,535,554
2025 123,366,734 25,620,427
2024 123,975,371 24,672,760
2023 124,516,650 23,594,623
2022 125,124,989 22,462,173
2021 125,681,593 21,628,839
2020 126,261,000 21,049,429
2019 126,633,000 20,353,534
2018 126,811,000 19,577,845
2017 126,972,000 19,224,668
2016 127,076,000 19,193,834
2015 127,141,000 19,424,618
2014 127,276,000 20,273,659
2013 127,445,000 21,666,917
2012 127,629,000 22,759,763
2011 127,833,000 22,878,098
2010 128,070,000 22,482,421
2009 128,047,000 21,976,969
2008 128,063,000 21,636,564
2007 128,001,000 20,884,125
2006 127,854,000 19,637,022
2005 127,773,000 18,814,091
2004 127,761,000 18,336,875
2003 127,718,000 17,889,296
2002 127,445,000 17,468,332
2001 127,149,000 17,051,338
2000 126,843,000 16,637,888
1999 126,631,000 16,228,061
1998 126,400,000 15,820,413
1997 126,057,000 15,417,542
1996 125,757,000 15,018,104
1995 125,472,000 14,616,801
1994 125,178,000 14,208,583
1993 124,829,000 13,795,686
1992 124,425,000 13,385,571
1991 123,964,000 12,980,821
1990 123,478,000 12,579,208
1989 123,069,000 12,179,060
1988 122,578,000 11,782,264
1987 122,069,000 11,388,923
1986 121,482,000 11,002,844
1985 120,837,000 10,625,672
1984 120,083,000 10,258,398
1983 119,307,000 9,904,809
1982 118,480,000 9,572,511
1981 117,661,000 9,260,189
1980 116,807,000 8,957,663
1979 115,890,000 8,661,909
1978 114,913,000 8,372,759
1977 113,872,000 8,090,501
1976 112,775,000 7,817,320
1975 111,573,000 7,554,364
1974 110,162,000 7,302,160
1973 108,707,000 7,060,321
1972 107,188,000 6,826,024
1971 105,697,000 6,598,094
1970 103,403,000 6,380,609
1969 102,219,000 6,175,166
1968 101,011,000 5,978,742
1967 99,879,000 5,790,198
1966 98,851,000 5,609,047
1965 97,952,000 5,435,267
1964 96,903,000 5,269,087
1963 95,900,000 5,110,467
1962 94,933,000 4,959,340
1961 94,055,000 4,815,466
1960 93,216,000 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M 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
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Syria
2100 -0.5% -0.16%
2099 -0.49% -0.13%
2098 -0.48% -0.14%
2097 -0.48% -0.12%
2096 -0.48% -0.06%
2095 -0.47% -0.11%
2094 -0.47% -0.06%
2093 -0.47% -0.07%
2092 -0.47% -0.03%
2091 -0.47% -0.07%
2090 -0.47% 0.002%
2089 -0.47% 0.01%
2088 -0.47% -0.02%
2087 -0.48% -0.04%
2086 -0.49% 0.08%
2085 -0.5% 0.08%
2084 -0.5% 0.06%
2083 -0.52% 0.14%
2082 -0.53% 0.15%
2081 -0.55% 0.22%
2080 -0.57% 0.13%
2079 -0.59% 0.08%
2078 -0.62% 0.1%
2077 -0.64% 0.19%
2076 -0.67% 0.21%
2075 -0.69% 0.22%
2074 -0.73% 0.24%
2073 -0.74% 0.31%
2072 -0.76% 0.33%
2071 -0.79% 0.33%
2070 -0.79% 0.34%
2069 -0.8% 0.42%
2068 -0.8% 0.45%
2067 -0.81% 0.49%
2066 -0.81% 0.58%
2065 -0.79% 0.59%
2064 -0.79% 0.59%
2063 -0.78% 0.59%
2062 -0.77% 0.61%
2061 -0.76% 0.69%
2060 -0.75% 0.76%
2059 -0.73% 0.69%
2058 -0.71% 0.69%
2057 -0.7% 0.77%
2056 -0.68% 0.76%
2055 -0.68% 0.84%
2054 -0.65% 0.87%
2053 -0.65% 0.78%
2052 -0.64% 0.8%
2051 -0.64% 0.84%
2050 -0.64% 0.84%
2049 -0.64% 0.81%
2048 -0.64% 0.78%
2047 -0.64% 0.84%
2046 -0.65% 0.92%
2045 -0.65% 0.87%
2044 -0.65% 0.93%
2043 -0.65% 1.01%
2042 -0.66% 1.07%
2041 -0.65% 1.16%
2040 -0.65% 1.2%
2039 -0.65% 1.3%
2038 -0.65% 1.42%
2037 -0.65% 1.44%
2036 -0.65% 1.61%
2035 -0.64% 1.7%
2034 -0.63% 1.86%
2033 -0.63% 1.92%
2032 -0.62% 2.1%
2031 -0.61% 2.21%
2030 -0.6% 2.5%
2029 -0.59% 2.59%
2028 -0.58% 2.88%
2027 -0.56% 3.09%
2026 -0.54% 3.57%
2025 -0.49% 3.84%
2024 -0.43% 4.57%
2023 -0.49% 5.04%
2022 -0.44% 3.85%
2021 -0.46% 2.75%
2020 -0.29% 3.42%
2019 -0.14% 3.96%
2018 -0.13% 1.84%
2017 -0.08% 0.16%
2016 -0.05% -1.19%
2015 -0.11% -4.19%
2014 -0.13% -6.43%
2013 -0.14% -4.8%
2012 -0.16% -0.52%
2011 -0.19% 1.76%
2010 0.02% 2.3%
2009 -0.01% 1.57%
2008 0.05% 3.6%
2007 0.11% 6.35%
2006 0.06% 4.37%
2005 0.009% 2.6%
2004 0.03% 2.5%
2003 0.21% 2.41%
2002 0.23% 2.45%
2001 0.24% 2.48%
2000 0.17% 2.53%
1999 0.18% 2.58%
1998 0.27% 2.61%
1997 0.24% 2.66%
1996 0.23% 2.75%
1995 0.23% 2.87%
1994 0.28% 2.99%
1993 0.32% 3.06%
1992 0.37% 3.12%
1991 0.39% 3.19%
1990 0.33% 3.29%
1989 0.4% 3.37%
1988 0.42% 3.45%
1987 0.48% 3.51%
1986 0.53% 3.55%
1985 0.63% 3.58%
1984 0.65% 3.57%
1983 0.7% 3.47%
1982 0.7% 3.37%
1981 0.73% 3.38%
1980 0.79% 3.41%
1979 0.85% 3.45%
1978 0.91% 3.49%
1977 0.97% 3.49%
1976 1.08% 3.48%
1975 1.28% 3.45%
1974 1.34% 3.43%
1973 1.42% 3.43%
1972 1.41% 3.45%
1971 2.22% 3.41%
1970 1.16% 3.33%
1969 1.2% 3.29%
1968 1.13% 3.26%
1967 1.04% 3.23%
1966 0.92% 3.2%
1965 1.08% 3.15%
1964 1.05% 3.1%
1963 1.02% 3.05%
1962 0.93% 2.99%
1961 0.9% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Japan Syria
Current population
122704252
26956472
Population rank 12/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.32%
One net population change
52 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
44.6 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 5/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +421,693
Net migration rank 10/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 421,693
2024 -942,213 153,357 449,784 546,494
2023 -871,617 175,003 402,713 757,309
2022 -825,825 175,003 369,750 735,142
2021 -640,976 -34,996 350,560 211,220
2020 -542,923 42,001 327,992 269,050
2019 -531,858 318,190 293,762 500,985
2018 -456,520 320,601 242,530 514,102
2017 -406,310 322,564 237,214 -287,501
2016 -343,106 314,732 236,007 -124,063
2015 -292,424 168,896 253,977 -827,496
2014 -267,279 58,109 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 -242,146 66,449 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 -229,733 67,904 475,520 -999,267
2011 -204,533 97,720 543,950 -256,888
2010 -128,070 131,860 558,666 -54,359
2009 -76,828 125,450 559,314 -52,703
2008 -51,225 142,605 576,593 -402,393
2007 -25,600 138,024 529,162 801,514
2006 12,785 130,065 480,616 682,911
2005 -25,554 113,017 468,960 13,382
2004 76,656 69,014 461,209 10,881
2003 114,946 74,875 457,000 -33,920
2002 178,423 60,864 453,967 -35,096
2001 203,438 59,563 451,503 -36,383
2000 228,317 23,468 446,211 -34,425
1999 202,610 56,901 439,261 -31,394
1998 265,440 45,912 433,447 -26,025
1997 277,325 43,366 429,887 -31,571
1996 314,392 25,030 430,765 -30,197
1995 276,039 87,714 430,172 -28,122
1994 363,017 154,214 426,996 -12,630
1993 312,073 168,836 420,244 -8,828
1992 360,833 170,878 412,878 -4,063
1991 396,685 161,331 410,830 -10,154
1990 407,478 124,582 409,177 -6,620
1989 467,662 31,202 406,111 -8,379
1988 527,085 51,154 404,285 -8,426
1987 598,138 28,001 399,159 -8,335
1986 631,706 27,987 390,821 -9,485
1985 676,687 -141,323 379,231 -6,221
1984 756,523 -273,686 366,768 -5,245
1983 775,495 -269,755 355,375 -9,729
1982 805,664 -288,550 319,664 -721
1981 811,861 -278,525 330,237 -24,536
1980 864,372 -92,314 332,464 -33,114
1979 950,298 -57,692 324,943 -32,793
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 316,724 -30,567
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 306,630 -28,275
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 294,267 -26,268
1975 1,204,989 107 282,299 -24,389
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 270,735 -24,242
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 254,687 -17,502
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 249,027 -17,610
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 239,610 -15,167
1970 1,230,496 33,731 230,117 -19,594
1969 1,195,962 49,447 219,114 -18,749
1968 1,191,930 43,593 209,454 -16,968
1967 1,258,475 29,632 199,223 -14,618
1966 682,072 68,934 191,122 -13,434
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 182,560 -12,704
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 174,549 -12,044
1963 987,770 -100,742 166,555 -11,817
1962 901,864 -57,075 159,155 -11,641
1961 893,522 -58,882 151,485 -11,237
1960 894,874 -150,371 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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