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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 5.4 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Japan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Zambia
2100 76,978,998 65,217,429
2099 77,363,458 64,871,545
2098 77,742,445 64,515,891
2097 78,118,375 64,148,736
2096 78,498,614 63,777,313
2095 78,875,245 63,393,169
2094 79,250,325 62,992,652
2093 79,628,057 62,590,327
2092 80,007,967 62,175,930
2091 80,383,529 61,750,591
2090 80,760,724 61,321,399
2089 81,140,553 60,880,148
2088 81,521,696 60,434,676
2087 81,908,373 59,970,107
2086 82,304,497 59,499,234
2085 82,709,534 59,023,040
2084 83,123,058 58,535,857
2083 83,544,006 58,040,512
2082 83,980,325 57,538,672
2081 84,429,305 57,027,491
2080 84,899,768 56,506,421
2079 85,387,247 55,983,242
2078 85,897,934 55,449,777
2077 86,434,291 54,906,771
2076 86,993,007 54,361,075
2075 87,577,777 53,806,856
2074 88,190,392 53,246,777
2073 88,834,763 52,677,348
2072 89,499,356 52,101,139
2071 90,184,464 51,519,691
2070 90,899,136 50,931,614
2069 91,625,421 50,334,700
2068 92,367,969 49,737,479
2067 93,113,499 49,135,488
2066 93,869,240 48,530,443
2065 94,633,430 47,918,592
2064 95,391,433 47,299,740
2063 96,148,081 46,677,439
2062 96,902,907 46,048,819
2061 97,654,031 45,416,657
2060 98,400,894 44,777,347
2059 99,144,216 44,137,306
2058 99,868,968 43,494,451
2057 100,585,601 42,851,923
2056 101,295,868 42,206,898
2055 101,989,736 41,558,284
2054 102,683,462 40,906,492
2053 103,359,083 40,255,629
2052 104,036,901 39,603,888
2051 104,706,698 38,949,958
2050 105,377,283 38,294,607
2049 106,053,011 37,634,194
2048 106,731,207 36,971,309
2047 107,419,237 36,309,749
2046 108,115,358 35,645,868
2045 108,820,982 34,981,812
2044 109,529,333 34,316,981
2043 110,245,586 33,652,420
2042 110,968,174 32,990,657
2041 111,704,629 32,329,447
2040 112,438,759 31,664,262
2039 113,175,948 31,001,305
2038 113,915,783 30,335,662
2037 114,662,374 29,668,561
2036 115,410,956 29,000,264
2035 116,162,381 28,333,498
2034 116,911,001 27,671,195
2033 117,652,676 27,011,974
2032 118,393,188 26,356,580
2031 119,127,425 25,702,812
2030 119,856,131 25,055,216
2029 120,574,242 24,414,405
2028 121,287,543 23,780,809
2027 121,989,133 23,151,479
2026 122,677,250 22,529,742
2025 123,339,586 21,918,187
2024 123,975,371 21,314,956
2023 124,516,650 20,723,965
2022 125,124,989 20,152,938
2021 125,681,593 19,603,607
2020 126,261,000 19,059,395
2019 126,633,000 18,513,839
2018 126,811,000 17,973,569
2017 126,972,000 17,441,320
2016 127,076,000 16,914,423
2015 127,141,000 16,399,089
2014 127,276,000 15,895,315
2013 127,445,000 15,398,997
2012 127,629,000 14,913,629
2011 127,833,000 14,437,796
2010 128,070,000 13,965,594
2009 128,047,000 13,490,389
2008 128,063,000 13,021,324
2007 128,001,000 12,565,085
2006 127,854,000 12,129,553
2005 127,773,000 11,718,819
2004 127,761,000 11,338,198
2003 127,718,000 10,983,595
2002 127,445,000 10,647,949
2001 127,149,000 10,325,185
2000 126,843,000 10,017,631
1999 126,631,000 9,740,005
1998 126,400,000 9,482,408
1997 126,057,000 9,237,063
1996 125,757,000 9,004,053
1995 125,472,000 8,785,763
1994 125,178,000 8,576,269
1993 124,829,000 8,373,921
1992 124,425,000 8,176,680
1991 123,964,000 7,981,650
1990 123,478,000 7,786,169
1989 123,069,000 7,589,216
1988 122,578,000 7,391,440
1987 122,069,000 7,191,282
1986 121,482,000 6,986,471
1985 120,837,000 6,780,953
1984 120,083,000 6,580,490
1983 119,307,000 6,381,038
1982 118,480,000 6,178,637
1981 117,661,000 5,983,289
1980 116,807,000 5,802,833
1979 115,890,000 5,631,728
1978 114,913,000 5,465,374
1977 113,872,000 5,302,480
1976 112,775,000 5,143,842
1975 111,573,000 4,990,086
1974 110,162,000 4,842,746
1973 108,707,000 4,702,693
1972 107,188,000 4,569,309
1971 105,697,000 4,442,525
1970 103,403,000 4,321,718
1969 102,219,000 4,197,116
1968 101,011,000 4,065,593
1967 99,879,000 3,936,343
1966 98,851,000 3,812,003
1965 97,952,000 3,692,086
1964 96,903,000 3,577,017
1963 95,900,000 3,465,907
1962 94,933,000 3,358,099
1961 94,055,000 3,254,086
1960 93,216,000 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Zambia
2100 -0.5% 0.53%
2099 -0.49% 0.55%
2098 -0.48% 0.57%
2097 -0.48% 0.58%
2096 -0.48% 0.61%
2095 -0.47% 0.64%
2094 -0.47% 0.64%
2093 -0.47% 0.67%
2092 -0.47% 0.69%
2091 -0.47% 0.7%
2090 -0.47% 0.72%
2089 -0.47% 0.74%
2088 -0.47% 0.77%
2087 -0.48% 0.79%
2086 -0.49% 0.81%
2085 -0.5% 0.83%
2084 -0.5% 0.85%
2083 -0.52% 0.87%
2082 -0.53% 0.9%
2081 -0.55% 0.92%
2080 -0.57% 0.93%
2079 -0.59% 0.96%
2078 -0.62% 0.99%
2077 -0.64% 1%
2076 -0.67% 1.03%
2075 -0.69% 1.05%
2074 -0.73% 1.08%
2073 -0.74% 1.11%
2072 -0.76% 1.13%
2071 -0.79% 1.15%
2070 -0.79% 1.19%
2069 -0.8% 1.2%
2068 -0.8% 1.23%
2067 -0.81% 1.25%
2066 -0.81% 1.28%
2065 -0.79% 1.31%
2064 -0.79% 1.33%
2063 -0.78% 1.37%
2062 -0.77% 1.39%
2061 -0.76% 1.43%
2060 -0.75% 1.45%
2059 -0.73% 1.48%
2058 -0.71% 1.5%
2057 -0.7% 1.53%
2056 -0.68% 1.56%
2055 -0.68% 1.59%
2054 -0.65% 1.62%
2053 -0.65% 1.65%
2052 -0.64% 1.68%
2051 -0.64% 1.71%
2050 -0.64% 1.75%
2049 -0.64% 1.79%
2048 -0.64% 1.82%
2047 -0.64% 1.86%
2046 -0.65% 1.9%
2045 -0.65% 1.94%
2044 -0.65% 1.97%
2043 -0.65% 2.01%
2042 -0.66% 2.05%
2041 -0.65% 2.1%
2040 -0.65% 2.14%
2039 -0.65% 2.19%
2038 -0.65% 2.25%
2037 -0.65% 2.3%
2036 -0.65% 2.35%
2035 -0.64% 2.39%
2034 -0.63% 2.44%
2033 -0.63% 2.49%
2032 -0.62% 2.54%
2031 -0.61% 2.58%
2030 -0.6% 2.62%
2029 -0.59% 2.66%
2028 -0.58% 2.72%
2027 -0.56% 2.76%
2026 -0.54% 2.79%
2025 -0.51% 2.83%
2024 -0.43% 2.85%
2023 -0.49% 2.83%
2022 -0.44% 2.8%
2021 -0.46% 2.86%
2020 -0.29% 2.95%
2019 -0.14% 3.01%
2018 -0.13% 3.05%
2017 -0.08% 3.12%
2016 -0.05% 3.14%
2015 -0.11% 3.17%
2014 -0.13% 3.22%
2013 -0.14% 3.25%
2012 -0.16% 3.3%
2011 -0.19% 3.38%
2010 0.02% 3.52%
2009 -0.01% 3.6%
2008 0.05% 3.63%
2007 0.11% 3.59%
2006 0.06% 3.5%
2005 0.009% 3.36%
2004 0.03% 3.23%
2003 0.21% 3.15%
2002 0.23% 3.13%
2001 0.24% 3.07%
2000 0.17% 2.85%
1999 0.18% 2.72%
1998 0.27% 2.66%
1997 0.24% 2.59%
1996 0.23% 2.48%
1995 0.23% 2.44%
1994 0.28% 2.42%
1993 0.32% 2.41%
1992 0.37% 2.44%
1991 0.39% 2.51%
1990 0.33% 2.6%
1989 0.4% 2.68%
1988 0.42% 2.78%
1987 0.48% 2.93%
1986 0.53% 3.03%
1985 0.63% 3.05%
1984 0.65% 3.13%
1983 0.7% 3.28%
1982 0.7% 3.26%
1981 0.73% 3.11%
1980 0.79% 3.04%
1979 0.85% 3.04%
1978 0.91% 3.07%
1977 0.97% 3.08%
1976 1.08% 3.08%
1975 1.28% 3.04%
1974 1.34% 2.98%
1973 1.42% 2.92%
1972 1.41% 2.85%
1971 2.22% 2.8%
1970 1.16% 2.97%
1969 1.2% 3.24%
1968 1.13% 3.28%
1967 1.04% 3.26%
1966 0.92% 3.25%
1965 1.08% 3.22%
1964 1.05% 3.21%
1963 1.02% 3.21%
1962 0.93% 3.2%
1961 0.9% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Japan Zambia
Current population
122677250
22697916
Population rank 12/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.27%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
42.2 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
19.5 seconds
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +1,619
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 21/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 +6,562
Net migration rank 10/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 6,562
2024 - 153,357 - 7,381
2023 -871,617 175,003 577,660 9,521
2022 -825,825 175,003 563,456 -8,566
2021 -640,976 -34,996 535,629 8,143
2020 -542,923 42,001 536,484 8,156
2019 -531,858 318,190 528,089 18,385
2018 -456,520 320,601 515,644 18,431
2017 -406,310 322,564 504,630 25,789
2016 -343,106 314,732 497,521 25,860
2015 -292,424 168,896 491,021 16,261
2014 -267,279 58,109 483,663 16,574
2013 -242,146 66,449 476,846 15,542
2012 -229,733 67,904 469,406 8,958
2011 -204,533 97,720 459,743 13,569
2010 -128,070 131,860 448,337 22,761
2009 -76,828 125,450 434,458 44,867
2008 -51,225 142,605 419,560 39,249
2007 -25,600 138,024 403,729 49,945
2006 12,785 130,065 387,891 29,517
2005 -25,554 113,017 368,756 35,316
2004 76,656 69,014 349,352 7,819
2003 114,946 74,875 331,189 20,845
2002 178,423 60,864 316,041 3,206
2001 203,438 59,563 302,682 23,582
2000 228,317 23,468 293,186 -4,338
1999 202,610 56,901 283,297 -16,888
1998 265,440 45,912 275,568 -26,796
1997 277,325 43,366 268,198 -26,276
1996 314,392 25,030 262,468 -38,358
1995 276,039 87,714 257,897 -45,423
1994 363,017 154,214 252,023 -45,504
1993 312,073 168,836 245,917 -47,739
1992 360,833 170,878 239,953 -43,656
1991 396,685 161,331 237,957 -44,203
1990 407,478 124,582 235,835 -38,619
1989 467,662 31,202 233,429 -36,736
1988 527,085 51,154 230,118 -31,270
1987 598,138 28,001 227,813 -26,338
1986 631,706 27,987 224,768 -16,610
1985 676,687 -141,323 221,351 -18,474
1984 756,523 -273,686 216,695 -18,652
1983 775,495 -269,755 212,712 -11,849
1982 805,664 -288,550 207,621 -3,676
1981 811,861 -278,525 202,822 -16,072
1980 864,372 -92,314 198,817 -24,664
1979 950,298 -57,692 197,578 -29,515
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 194,933 -30,284
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 191,557 -30,423
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 186,762 -30,612
1975 1,204,989 107 182,258 -30,886
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 174,484 -31,178
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 168,258 -31,472
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 161,648 -31,672
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 155,249 -31,651
1970 1,230,496 33,731 149,380 -31,370
1969 1,195,962 49,447 142,660 -11,469
1968 1,191,930 43,593 137,315 -5,447
1967 1,258,475 29,632 131,938 -5,298
1966 682,072 68,934 127,164 -5,129
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 122,814 -5,023
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 117,197 -4,851
1963 987,770 -100,742 114,555 -4,676
1962 901,864 -57,075 110,173 -4,428
1961 893,522 -58,882 106,318 -4,043
1960 894,874 -150,371 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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