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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 354 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).

Japan vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Vanuatu
2100 76,995,942 883,016
2099 77,380,486 878,369
2098 77,759,557 873,597
2097 78,135,569 868,672
2096 78,515,892 863,700
2095 78,892,606 858,515
2094 79,267,768 853,182
2093 79,645,584 847,713
2092 80,025,578 842,198
2091 80,401,222 836,615
2090 80,778,500 830,915
2089 81,158,413 825,143
2088 81,539,639 819,225
2087 81,926,401 813,199
2086 82,322,612 807,118
2085 82,727,738 800,846
2084 83,141,354 794,459
2083 83,562,394 788,013
2082 83,998,809 781,513
2081 84,447,888 774,913
2080 84,918,455 768,233
2079 85,406,042 761,418
2078 85,916,840 754,464
2077 86,453,316 747,507
2076 87,012,155 740,413
2075 87,597,053 733,236
2074 88,209,803 725,977
2073 88,854,316 718,583
2072 89,519,055 711,096
2071 90,204,314 703,543
2070 90,919,143 695,963
2069 91,645,589 688,347
2068 92,388,299 680,670
2067 93,133,993 672,919
2066 93,889,902 665,095
2065 94,654,259 657,238
2064 95,412,429 649,317
2063 96,169,244 641,384
2062 96,924,236 633,453
2061 97,675,525 625,585
2060 98,422,553 617,652
2059 99,166,038 609,661
2058 99,890,950 601,631
2057 100,607,740 593,578
2056 101,318,164 585,523
2055 102,012,184 577,375
2054 102,706,063 569,204
2053 103,381,833 560,984
2052 104,059,800 552,762
2051 104,729,745 544,521
2050 105,400,477 536,181
2049 106,076,354 527,854
2048 106,754,699 519,491
2047 107,442,881 511,139
2046 108,139,155 502,701
2045 108,844,934 494,279
2044 109,553,441 485,821
2043 110,269,851 477,431
2042 110,992,599 469,034
2041 111,729,216 460,706
2040 112,463,507 452,395
2039 113,200,859 444,129
2038 113,940,856 435,887
2037 114,687,611 427,727
2036 115,436,359 419,648
2035 116,187,949 411,652
2034 116,936,734 403,718
2033 117,678,572 395,853
2032 118,419,247 388,114
2031 119,153,646 380,413
2030 119,882,512 372,755
2029 120,600,781 365,162
2028 121,314,239 357,621
2027 122,015,984 350,124
2026 122,704,252 342,649
2025 123,366,734 335,169
2024 123,975,371 327,777
2023 124,516,650 320,409
2022 125,124,989 313,046
2021 125,681,593 305,868
2020 126,261,000 298,858
2019 126,633,000 291,985
2018 126,811,000 285,259
2017 126,972,000 278,507
2016 127,076,000 272,087
2015 127,141,000 266,101
2014 127,276,000 260,240
2013 127,445,000 254,482
2012 127,629,000 248,883
2011 127,833,000 243,474
2010 128,070,000 238,248
2009 128,047,000 232,731
2008 128,063,000 226,896
2007 128,001,000 221,276
2006 127,854,000 215,923
2005 127,773,000 210,760
2004 127,761,000 205,711
2003 127,718,000 200,746
2002 127,445,000 195,863
2001 127,149,000 191,031
2000 126,843,000 186,281
1999 126,631,000 182,048
1998 126,400,000 178,313
1997 126,057,000 174,626
1996 125,757,000 170,911
1995 125,472,000 167,137
1994 125,178,000 163,314
1993 124,829,000 159,463
1992 124,425,000 155,608
1991 123,964,000 151,793
1990 123,478,000 148,063
1989 123,069,000 144,393
1988 122,578,000 140,756
1987 122,069,000 137,187
1986 121,482,000 133,720
1985 120,837,000 130,356
1984 120,083,000 127,109
1983 119,307,000 123,998
1982 118,480,000 121,035
1981 117,661,000 118,249
1980 116,807,000 115,660
1979 115,890,000 113,040
1978 114,913,000 109,963
1977 113,872,000 106,618
1976 112,775,000 103,388
1975 111,573,000 100,269
1974 110,162,000 97,260
1973 108,707,000 94,362
1972 107,188,000 91,562
1971 105,697,000 88,862
1970 103,403,000 86,266
1969 102,219,000 83,755
1968 101,011,000 81,314
1967 99,879,000 78,921
1966 98,851,000 76,590
1965 97,952,000 74,358
1964 96,903,000 72,219
1963 95,900,000 70,159
1962 94,933,000 68,174
1961 94,055,000 66,264
1960 93,216,000 64,431

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/vanuatu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.

Vanuatu is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 883K 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
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Vanuatu
2100 -0.5% 0.53%
2099 -0.49% 0.55%
2098 -0.48% 0.57%
2097 -0.48% 0.58%
2096 -0.48% 0.6%
2095 -0.47% 0.63%
2094 -0.47% 0.65%
2093 -0.47% 0.65%
2092 -0.47% 0.67%
2091 -0.47% 0.69%
2090 -0.47% 0.7%
2089 -0.47% 0.72%
2088 -0.47% 0.74%
2087 -0.48% 0.75%
2086 -0.49% 0.78%
2085 -0.5% 0.8%
2084 -0.5% 0.82%
2083 -0.52% 0.83%
2082 -0.53% 0.85%
2081 -0.55% 0.87%
2080 -0.57% 0.9%
2079 -0.59% 0.92%
2078 -0.62% 0.93%
2077 -0.64% 0.96%
2076 -0.67% 0.98%
2075 -0.69% 1%
2074 -0.73% 1.03%
2073 -0.74% 1.05%
2072 -0.76% 1.07%
2071 -0.79% 1.09%
2070 -0.79% 1.11%
2069 -0.8% 1.13%
2068 -0.8% 1.15%
2067 -0.81% 1.18%
2066 -0.81% 1.2%
2065 -0.79% 1.22%
2064 -0.79% 1.24%
2063 -0.78% 1.25%
2062 -0.77% 1.26%
2061 -0.76% 1.28%
2060 -0.75% 1.31%
2059 -0.73% 1.33%
2058 -0.71% 1.36%
2057 -0.7% 1.38%
2056 -0.68% 1.41%
2055 -0.68% 1.44%
2054 -0.65% 1.47%
2053 -0.65% 1.49%
2052 -0.64% 1.51%
2051 -0.64% 1.56%
2050 -0.64% 1.58%
2049 -0.64% 1.61%
2048 -0.64% 1.63%
2047 -0.64% 1.68%
2046 -0.65% 1.7%
2045 -0.65% 1.74%
2044 -0.65% 1.76%
2043 -0.65% 1.79%
2042 -0.66% 1.81%
2041 -0.65% 1.84%
2040 -0.65% 1.86%
2039 -0.65% 1.89%
2038 -0.65% 1.91%
2037 -0.65% 1.93%
2036 -0.65% 1.94%
2035 -0.64% 1.97%
2034 -0.63% 1.99%
2033 -0.63% 1.99%
2032 -0.62% 2.02%
2031 -0.61% 2.05%
2030 -0.6% 2.08%
2029 -0.59% 2.11%
2028 -0.58% 2.14%
2027 -0.56% 2.18%
2026 -0.54% 2.23%
2025 -0.49% 2.26%
2024 -0.43% 2.3%
2023 -0.49% 2.35%
2022 -0.44% 2.35%
2021 -0.46% 2.35%
2020 -0.29% 2.35%
2019 -0.14% 2.36%
2018 -0.13% 2.42%
2017 -0.08% 2.36%
2016 -0.05% 2.25%
2015 -0.11% 2.25%
2014 -0.13% 2.26%
2013 -0.14% 2.25%
2012 -0.16% 2.22%
2011 -0.19% 2.19%
2010 0.02% 2.37%
2009 -0.01% 2.57%
2008 0.05% 2.54%
2007 0.11% 2.48%
2006 0.06% 2.45%
2005 0.009% 2.45%
2004 0.03% 2.47%
2003 0.21% 2.49%
2002 0.23% 2.53%
2001 0.24% 2.55%
2000 0.17% 2.33%
1999 0.18% 2.09%
1998 0.27% 2.11%
1997 0.24% 2.17%
1996 0.23% 2.26%
1995 0.23% 2.34%
1994 0.28% 2.41%
1993 0.32% 2.48%
1992 0.37% 2.51%
1991 0.39% 2.52%
1990 0.33% 2.54%
1989 0.4% 2.58%
1988 0.42% 2.6%
1987 0.48% 2.59%
1986 0.53% 2.58%
1985 0.63% 2.55%
1984 0.65% 2.51%
1983 0.7% 2.45%
1982 0.7% 2.36%
1981 0.73% 2.24%
1980 0.79% 2.32%
1979 0.85% 2.8%
1978 0.91% 3.14%
1977 0.97% 3.12%
1976 1.08% 3.11%
1975 1.28% 3.09%
1974 1.34% 3.07%
1973 1.42% 3.06%
1972 1.41% 3.04%
1971 2.22% 3.01%
1970 1.16% 3%
1969 1.2% 3%
1968 1.13% 3.03%
1967 1.04% 3.04%
1966 0.92% 3%
1965 1.08% 2.96%
1964 1.05% 2.94%
1963 1.02% 2.91%
1962 0.93% 2.88%
1961 0.9% 2.84%

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/vanuatu | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.

Live population counters

Japan Vanuatu
Current population
122704252
346488
Population rank 12/197 174/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.004%
One net population change
52 seconds
1.19 hours
One birth every
44.6 seconds
58 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
5.33 hours
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +20
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +7,392
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.26%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 36/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.01 weeks
Annual migration change +140,579 -52
Net migration rank 10/196 80/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 3,315
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 188/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 155/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Vanuatu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Vanuatu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -52
2024 -942,213 153,357 7,419 -43
2023 -871,617 175,003 7,359 0
2022 -825,825 175,003 7,358 0
2021 -640,976 -34,996 7,199 -201
2020 -542,923 42,001 7,233 -201
2019 -531,858 318,190 7,364 -652
2018 -456,520 320,601 7,379 -638
2017 -406,310 322,564 7,371 -610
2016 -343,106 314,732 7,315 -1,235
2015 -292,424 168,896 7,220 -1,324
2014 -267,279 58,109 7,143 -1,320
2013 -242,146 66,449 7,036 -1,343
2012 -229,733 67,904 6,877 -1,369
2011 -204,533 97,720 6,715 -1,395
2010 -128,070 131,860 6,548 -1,413
2009 -76,828 125,450 6,362 -467
2008 -51,225 142,605 6,138 -372
2007 -25,600 138,024 5,842 -374
2006 12,785 130,065 5,606 -364
2005 -25,554 113,017 5,454 -364
2004 76,656 69,014 5,353 -349
2003 114,946 74,875 5,258 -342
2002 178,423 60,864 5,181 -329
2001 203,438 59,563 5,144 -328
2000 228,317 23,468 5,026 -339
1999 202,610 56,901 4,871 -1,090
1998 265,440 45,912 4,866 -1,178
1997 277,325 43,366 4,854 -1,166
1996 314,392 25,030 4,897 -1,154
1995 276,039 87,714 4,945 -1,140
1994 363,017 154,214 4,973 -1,132
1993 312,073 168,836 4,973 -1,115
1992 360,833 170,878 4,941 -1,095
1991 396,685 161,331 4,859 -1,078
1990 407,478 124,582 4,762 -1,072
1989 467,662 31,202 4,656 -1,006
1988 527,085 51,154 4,577 -959
1987 598,138 28,001 4,427 -907
1986 631,706 27,987 4,360 -938
1985 676,687 -141,323 4,219 -916
1984 756,523 -273,686 4,088 -907
1983 775,495 -269,755 3,944 -899
1982 805,664 -288,550 3,778 -897
1981 811,861 -278,525 3,592 -896
1980 864,372 -92,314 3,383 -896
1979 950,298 -57,692 3,590 -845
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 3,428 -15
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 3,285 -3
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 3,174 3
1975 1,204,989 107 3,074 -15
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 2,968 -17
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 2,876 -22
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 2,775 -28
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 2,685 -40
1970 1,230,496 33,731 2,597 -46
1969 1,195,962 49,447 2,529 -53
1968 1,191,930 43,593 2,470 -68
1967 1,258,475 29,632 2,384 0
1966 682,072 68,934 2,278 0
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 2,180 0
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 2,098 0
1963 987,770 -100,742 2,025 0
1962 901,864 -57,075 1,947 0
1961 893,522 -58,882 1,872 0
1960 894,874 -150,371 1,796 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.

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
Vanuatu
City Population
Port Vila 49K
Luganville 17.7K

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/vanuatu | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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