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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 70,071,289 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 2.32% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Japan vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan United Kingdom
2100 76,995,942 74,517,005
2099 77,380,486 74,647,273
2098 77,759,557 74,766,073
2097 78,135,569 74,879,923
2096 78,515,892 74,991,940
2095 78,892,606 75,102,041
2094 79,267,768 75,198,597
2093 79,645,584 75,296,704
2092 80,025,578 75,390,038
2091 80,401,222 75,480,137
2090 80,778,500 75,566,962
2089 81,158,413 75,649,353
2088 81,539,639 75,721,067
2087 81,926,401 75,791,990
2086 82,322,612 75,859,854
2085 82,727,738 75,918,647
2084 83,141,354 75,969,065
2083 83,562,394 76,018,614
2082 83,998,809 76,059,464
2081 84,447,888 76,086,593
2080 84,918,455 76,118,679
2079 85,406,042 76,147,352
2078 85,916,840 76,165,841
2077 86,453,316 76,183,437
2076 87,012,155 76,185,828
2075 87,597,053 76,198,349
2074 88,209,803 76,209,676
2073 88,854,316 76,218,781
2072 89,519,055 76,211,187
2071 90,204,314 76,200,495
2070 90,919,143 76,190,801
2069 91,645,589 76,184,140
2068 92,388,299 76,183,288
2067 93,133,993 76,175,881
2066 93,889,902 76,168,987
2065 94,654,259 76,168,193
2064 95,412,429 76,165,129
2063 96,169,244 76,165,534
2062 96,924,236 76,158,910
2061 97,675,525 76,156,587
2060 98,422,553 76,157,104
2059 99,166,038 76,157,593
2058 99,890,950 76,139,384
2057 100,607,740 76,119,478
2056 101,318,164 76,086,799
2055 102,012,184 76,047,952
2054 102,706,063 75,980,524
2053 103,381,833 75,907,047
2052 104,059,800 75,815,200
2051 104,729,745 75,709,173
2050 105,400,477 75,591,218
2049 106,076,354 75,460,140
2048 106,754,699 75,313,837
2047 107,442,881 75,153,802
2046 108,139,155 74,986,563
2045 108,844,934 74,808,886
2044 109,553,441 74,623,687
2043 110,269,851 74,424,133
2042 110,992,599 74,224,922
2041 111,729,216 74,020,934
2040 112,463,507 73,812,680
2039 113,200,859 73,600,788
2038 113,940,856 73,378,310
2037 114,687,611 73,155,497
2036 115,436,359 72,921,995
2035 116,187,949 72,671,687
2034 116,936,734 72,418,766
2033 117,678,572 72,145,065
2032 118,419,247 71,869,259
2031 119,153,646 71,581,519
2030 119,882,512 71,267,237
2029 120,600,781 70,948,992
2028 121,314,239 70,609,246
2027 122,015,984 70,248,858
2026 122,704,252 69,883,746
2025 123,366,734 69,487,000
2024 123,975,371 69,281,000
2023 124,516,650 68,526,000
2022 125,124,989 67,636,000
2021 125,681,593 66,978,000
2020 126,261,000 66,740,000
2019 126,633,000 66,628,000
2018 126,811,000 66,287,000
2017 126,972,000 65,964,000
2016 127,076,000 65,606,000
2015 127,141,000 65,087,000
2014 127,276,000 64,619,000
2013 127,445,000 64,138,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% 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 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.2M 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 -0.49% 0.3%
2024 -0.43% 1.1%
2023 -0.49% 1.32%
2022 -0.44% 0.98%
2021 -0.46% 0.36%
2020 -0.29% 0.17%
2019 -0.14% 0.51%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Japan United Kingdom
Current population
122704252
70071289
Population rank 12/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.84%
One net population change
52 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +564
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 145/197
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 -942,213 153,357 13,233 417,114
2023 -871,617 175,003 34,606 445,523
2022 -825,825 175,003 39,770 487,029
2021 -640,976 -34,996 30,609 462,967
2020 -542,923 42,001 -4,272 144,221
2019 -531,858 318,190 108,338 232,727
2018 -456,520 320,601 119,317 259,744
2017 -406,310 322,564 145,121 272,311
2016 -343,106 314,732 177,136 324,649
2015 -292,424 168,896 175,735 347,839
2014 -267,279 58,109 206,781 306,091
2013 -242,146 66,449 198,827 237,272
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 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 (1960–2025, 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/united-kingdom | 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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