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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 5.37 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 -0.28% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Japan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Zambia
2100 76,995,942 65,204,593
2099 77,380,486 64,858,778
2098 77,759,557 64,503,193
2097 78,135,569 64,136,110
2096 78,515,892 63,764,760
2095 78,892,606 63,380,692
2094 79,267,768 62,980,254
2093 79,645,584 62,578,008
2092 80,025,578 62,163,693
2091 80,401,222 61,738,437
2090 80,778,500 61,309,330
2089 81,158,413 60,868,166
2088 81,539,639 60,422,781
2087 81,926,401 59,958,303
2086 82,322,612 59,487,524
2085 82,727,738 59,011,423
2084 83,141,354 58,524,337
2083 83,562,394 58,029,088
2082 83,998,809 57,527,347
2081 84,447,888 57,016,267
2080 84,918,455 56,495,299
2079 85,406,042 55,972,223
2078 85,916,840 55,438,864
2077 86,453,316 54,895,964
2076 87,012,155 54,350,375
2075 87,597,053 53,796,265
2074 88,209,803 53,236,297
2073 88,854,316 52,666,980
2072 89,519,055 52,090,884
2071 90,204,314 51,509,551
2070 90,919,143 50,921,590
2069 91,645,589 50,324,793
2068 92,388,299 49,727,689
2067 93,133,993 49,125,817
2066 93,889,902 48,520,891
2065 94,654,259 47,909,160
2064 95,412,429 47,290,430
2063 96,169,244 46,668,252
2062 96,924,236 46,039,755
2061 97,675,525 45,407,718
2060 98,422,553 44,768,534
2059 99,166,038 44,128,619
2058 99,890,950 43,485,891
2057 100,607,740 42,843,489
2056 101,318,164 42,198,591
2055 102,012,184 41,550,105
2054 102,706,063 40,898,440
2053 103,381,833 40,247,706
2052 104,059,800 39,596,094
2051 104,729,745 38,942,292
2050 105,400,477 38,287,070
2049 106,076,354 37,626,787
2048 106,754,699 36,964,032
2047 107,442,881 36,302,603
2046 108,139,155 35,638,852
2045 108,844,934 34,974,927
2044 109,553,441 34,310,227
2043 110,269,851 33,645,797
2042 110,992,599 32,984,164
2041 111,729,216 32,323,084
2040 112,463,507 31,658,029
2039 113,200,859 30,995,204
2038 113,940,856 30,329,691
2037 114,687,611 29,662,721
2036 115,436,359 28,994,556
2035 116,187,949 28,327,922
2034 116,936,734 27,665,749
2033 117,678,572 27,006,658
2032 118,419,247 26,351,393
2031 119,153,646 25,697,754
2030 119,882,512 25,050,285
2029 120,600,781 24,409,600
2028 121,314,239 23,776,128
2027 122,015,984 23,146,922
2026 122,704,252 22,525,308
2025 123,366,734 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 -0.49% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Japan Zambia
Current population
122704252
22844606
Population rank 12/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.27%
One net population change
52 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
44.6 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +1,641
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 19/197
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 -942,213 153,357 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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