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Population in Japan compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 1.75 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 2.33% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Japan vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan United Kingdom
2100 76,978,998 74,700,585
2099 77,363,458 74,831,175
2098 77,742,445 74,950,267
2097 78,118,375 75,064,397
2096 78,498,614 75,176,691
2095 78,875,245 75,287,063
2094 79,250,325 75,383,856
2093 79,628,057 75,482,205
2092 80,007,967 75,575,769
2091 80,383,529 75,666,091
2090 80,760,724 75,753,129
2089 81,140,553 75,835,723
2088 81,521,696 75,907,614
2087 81,908,373 75,978,712
2086 82,304,497 76,046,742
2085 82,709,534 76,105,680
2084 83,123,058 76,156,223
2083 83,544,006 76,205,894
2082 83,980,325 76,246,844
2081 84,429,305 76,274,040
2080 84,899,768 76,306,205
2079 85,387,247 76,334,949
2078 85,897,934 76,353,484
2077 86,434,291 76,371,123
2076 86,993,007 76,373,520
2075 87,577,777 76,386,071
2074 88,190,392 76,397,426
2073 88,834,763 76,406,554
2072 89,499,356 76,398,941
2071 90,184,464 76,388,223
2070 90,899,136 76,378,505
2069 91,625,421 76,371,827
2068 92,367,969 76,370,973
2067 93,113,499 76,363,548
2066 93,869,240 76,356,638
2065 94,633,430 76,355,841
2064 95,391,433 76,352,770
2063 96,148,081 76,353,175
2062 96,902,907 76,346,535
2061 97,654,031 76,344,206
2060 98,400,894 76,344,725
2059 99,144,216 76,345,215
2058 99,868,968 76,326,961
2057 100,585,601 76,307,006
2056 101,295,868 76,274,247
2055 101,989,736 76,235,304
2054 102,683,462 76,167,710
2053 103,359,083 76,094,051
2052 104,036,901 76,001,979
2051 104,706,698 75,895,690
2050 105,377,283 75,777,445
2049 106,053,011 75,646,044
2048 106,731,207 75,499,380
2047 107,419,237 75,338,951
2046 108,115,358 75,171,300
2045 108,820,982 74,993,186
2044 109,529,333 74,807,530
2043 110,245,586 74,607,485
2042 110,968,174 74,407,783
2041 111,704,629 74,203,292
2040 112,438,759 73,994,525
2039 113,175,948 73,782,112
2038 113,915,783 73,559,085
2037 114,662,374 73,335,723
2036 115,410,956 73,101,646
2035 116,162,381 72,850,722
2034 116,911,001 72,597,177
2033 117,652,676 72,322,802
2032 118,393,188 72,046,316
2031 119,127,425 71,757,868
2030 119,856,131 71,442,811
2029 120,574,242 71,123,782
2028 121,287,543 70,783,199
2027 121,989,133 70,421,923
2026 122,677,250 70,055,911
2025 123,339,586 69,658,188
2024 123,975,371 69,226,000
2023 124,516,650 68,492,000
2022 125,124,989 67,604,000
2021 125,681,593 66,984,000
2020 126,261,000 66,744,000
2019 126,633,000 66,631,000
2018 126,811,000 66,289,000
2017 126,972,000 65,966,000
2016 127,076,000 65,607,000
2015 127,141,000 65,088,000
2014 127,276,000 64,620,000
2013 127,445,000 64,139,000
2012 127,629,000 63,711,000
2011 127,833,000 63,258,810
2010 128,070,000 62,766,365
2009 128,047,000 62,276,270
2008 128,063,000 61,806,995
2007 128,001,000 61,322,463
2006 127,854,000 60,846,820
2005 127,773,000 60,401,206
2004 127,761,000 59,987,905
2003 127,718,000 59,647,577
2002 127,445,000 59,370,479
2001 127,149,000 59,119,673
2000 126,843,000 58,892,514
1999 126,631,000 58,682,466
1998 126,400,000 58,487,141
1997 126,057,000 58,316,954
1996 125,757,000 58,166,950
1995 125,472,000 58,019,030
1994 125,178,000 57,865,745
1993 124,829,000 57,718,614
1992 124,425,000 57,580,402
1991 123,964,000 57,424,897
1990 123,478,000 57,247,586
1989 123,069,000 57,076,711
1988 122,578,000 56,928,327
1987 122,069,000 56,802,050
1986 121,482,000 56,681,396
1985 120,837,000 56,550,268
1984 120,083,000 56,422,072
1983 119,307,000 56,332,848
1982 118,480,000 56,313,641
1981 117,661,000 56,333,829
1980 116,807,000 56,314,216
1979 115,890,000 56,246,951
1978 114,913,000 56,196,504
1977 113,872,000 56,193,492
1976 112,775,000 56,211,968
1975 111,573,000 56,225,800
1974 110,162,000 56,229,974
1973 108,707,000 56,194,527
1972 107,188,000 56,086,065
1971 105,697,000 55,896,223
1970 103,403,000 55,663,250
1969 102,219,000 55,441,750
1968 101,011,000 55,211,700
1967 99,879,000 54,943,600
1966 98,851,000 54,648,500
1965 97,952,000 54,348,050
1964 96,903,000 54,000,000
1963 95,900,000 53,650,000
1962 94,933,000 53,250,000
1961 94,055,000 52,800,000
1960 93,216,000 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.4M 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
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan United Kingdom
2100 -0.5% -0.17%
2099 -0.49% -0.16%
2098 -0.48% -0.15%
2097 -0.48% -0.15%
2096 -0.48% -0.15%
2095 -0.47% -0.13%
2094 -0.47% -0.13%
2093 -0.47% -0.12%
2092 -0.47% -0.12%
2091 -0.47% -0.11%
2090 -0.47% -0.11%
2089 -0.47% -0.09%
2088 -0.47% -0.09%
2087 -0.48% -0.09%
2086 -0.49% -0.08%
2085 -0.5% -0.07%
2084 -0.5% -0.07%
2083 -0.52% -0.05%
2082 -0.53% -0.04%
2081 -0.55% -0.04%
2080 -0.57% -0.04%
2079 -0.59% -0.02%
2078 -0.62% -0.02%
2077 -0.64% -0.003%
2076 -0.67% -0.02%
2075 -0.69% -0.01%
2074 -0.73% -0.01%
2073 -0.74% 0.01%
2072 -0.76% 0.01%
2071 -0.79% 0.01%
2070 -0.79% 0.009%
2069 -0.8% 0.001%
2068 -0.8% 0.01%
2067 -0.81% 0.009%
2066 -0.81% 0.001%
2065 -0.79% 0.004%
2064 -0.79% -0%
2063 -0.78% 0.009%
2062 -0.77% 0.003%
2061 -0.76% -0.001%
2060 -0.75% -0.001%
2059 -0.73% 0.02%
2058 -0.71% 0.03%
2057 -0.7% 0.04%
2056 -0.68% 0.05%
2055 -0.68% 0.09%
2054 -0.65% 0.1%
2053 -0.65% 0.12%
2052 -0.64% 0.14%
2051 -0.64% 0.16%
2050 -0.64% 0.17%
2049 -0.64% 0.19%
2048 -0.64% 0.21%
2047 -0.64% 0.22%
2046 -0.65% 0.24%
2045 -0.65% 0.25%
2044 -0.65% 0.27%
2043 -0.65% 0.27%
2042 -0.66% 0.28%
2041 -0.65% 0.28%
2040 -0.65% 0.29%
2039 -0.65% 0.3%
2038 -0.65% 0.3%
2037 -0.65% 0.32%
2036 -0.65% 0.34%
2035 -0.64% 0.35%
2034 -0.63% 0.38%
2033 -0.63% 0.38%
2032 -0.62% 0.4%
2031 -0.61% 0.44%
2030 -0.6% 0.45%
2029 -0.59% 0.48%
2028 -0.58% 0.51%
2027 -0.56% 0.52%
2026 -0.54% 0.57%
2025 -0.51% 0.62%
2024 -0.43% 1.07%
2023 -0.49% 1.31%
2022 -0.44% 0.93%
2021 -0.46% 0.36%
2020 -0.29% 0.17%
2019 -0.14% 0.52%
2018 -0.13% 0.49%
2017 -0.08% 0.55%
2016 -0.05% 0.8%
2015 -0.11% 0.72%
2014 -0.13% 0.75%
2013 -0.14% 0.67%
2012 -0.16% 0.71%
2011 -0.19% 0.78%
2010 0.02% 0.79%
2009 -0.01% 0.76%
2008 0.05% 0.79%
2007 0.11% 0.78%
2006 0.06% 0.74%
2005 0.009% 0.69%
2004 0.03% 0.57%
2003 0.21% 0.47%
2002 0.23% 0.42%
2001 0.24% 0.39%
2000 0.17% 0.36%
1999 0.18% 0.33%
1998 0.27% 0.29%
1997 0.24% 0.26%
1996 0.23% 0.25%
1995 0.23% 0.26%
1994 0.28% 0.25%
1993 0.32% 0.24%
1992 0.37% 0.27%
1991 0.39% 0.31%
1990 0.33% 0.3%
1989 0.4% 0.26%
1988 0.42% 0.22%
1987 0.48% 0.21%
1986 0.53% 0.23%
1985 0.63% 0.23%
1984 0.65% 0.16%
1983 0.7% 0.03%
1982 0.7% -0.04%
1981 0.73% 0.03%
1980 0.79% 0.12%
1979 0.85% 0.09%
1978 0.91% 0.005%
1977 0.97% -0.03%
1976 1.08% -0.02%
1975 1.28% -0.007%
1974 1.34% 0.06%
1973 1.42% 0.19%
1972 1.41% 0.34%
1971 2.22% 0.42%
1970 1.16% 0.4%
1969 1.2% 0.42%
1968 1.13% 0.49%
1967 1.04% 0.54%
1966 0.92% 0.55%
1965 1.08% 0.64%
1964 1.05% 0.65%
1963 1.02% 0.75%
1962 0.93% 0.85%
1961 0.9% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Japan United Kingdom
Current population
122677250
70154914
Population rank 12/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.85%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
42.2 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
19.5 seconds
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +2,011
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 97/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +389,911
Net migration rank 10/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 389,911
2024 - 153,357 - 417,114
2023 -871,617 175,003 34,589 445,523
2022 -825,825 175,003 39,751 487,029
2021 -640,976 -34,996 30,612 462,967
2020 -542,923 42,001 -4,272 144,221
2019 -531,858 318,190 108,342 232,727
2018 -456,520 320,601 119,321 259,744
2017 -406,310 322,564 145,125 272,311
2016 -343,106 314,732 177,139 324,649
2015 -292,424 168,896 175,738 347,839
2014 -267,279 58,109 206,784 306,091
2013 -242,146 66,449 198,830 237,272
2012 -229,733 67,904 248,473 172,088
2011 -204,533 97,720 259,361 228,773
2010 -128,070 131,860 251,066 274,811
2009 -76,828 125,450 230,422 249,639
2008 -51,225 142,605 216,325 263,390
2007 -25,600 138,024 196,232 309,385
2006 12,785 130,065 176,455 288,923
2005 -25,554 113,017 144,963 308,279
2004 76,656 69,014 131,974 276,077
2003 114,946 74,875 89,471 211,846
2002 178,423 60,864 65,308 203,577
2001 203,438 59,563 65,032 175,133
2000 228,317 23,468 70,671 153,917
1999 202,610 56,901 64,551 152,653
1998 265,440 45,912 87,730 125,541
1997 277,325 43,366 99,138 59,723
1996 314,392 25,030 98,884 54,964
1995 276,039 87,714 87,028 61,385
1994 363,017 154,214 127,304 45,339
1993 312,073 168,836 103,893 27,403
1992 360,833 170,878 149,709 17,846
1991 396,685 161,331 143,562 27,601
1990 407,478 124,582 154,569 57,132
1989 467,662 31,202 119,861 49,586
1988 527,085 51,154 136,628 13,952
1987 598,138 28,001 136,325 8,266
1986 631,706 27,987 90,690 41,836
1985 676,687 -141,323 79,170 83,164
1984 756,523 -273,686 84,633 71,107
1983 775,495 -269,755 61,966 27,063
1982 805,664 -288,550 56,314 -61,152
1981 811,861 -278,525 73,234 -83,876
1980 864,372 -92,314 95,734 -25,187
1979 950,298 -57,692 61,872 11,255
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 16,859 3,783
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 0 -21,636
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 -5,621 -19,135
1975 1,204,989 107 33,735 -40,241
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 67,476 -65,710
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 112,389 -33,840
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 162,650 -1,406
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 257,123 1,175
1970 1,230,496 33,731 244,918 -15,254
1969 1,195,962 49,447 260,577 -60,655
1968 1,191,930 43,593 292,622 -38,852
1967 1,258,475 29,632 346,145 -39,659
1966 682,072 68,934 333,356 -27,935
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 364,132 -24,955
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 405,000 -23,885
1963 987,770 -100,742 337,995 8,271
1962 901,864 -57,075 340,800 76,443
1961 893,522 -58,882 311,519 52,295
1960 894,874 -150,371 314,400 19,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

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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)

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