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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 7.03 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 1.69% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Japan vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Zimbabwe
2100 76,995,942 37,486,352
2099 77,380,486 37,415,690
2098 77,759,557 37,331,540
2097 78,135,569 37,238,819
2096 78,515,892 37,146,184
2095 78,892,606 37,035,388
2094 79,267,768 36,915,996
2093 79,645,584 36,814,133
2092 80,025,578 36,691,740
2091 80,401,222 36,570,481
2090 80,778,500 36,428,812
2089 81,158,413 36,284,166
2088 81,539,639 36,144,627
2087 81,926,401 35,980,805
2086 82,322,612 35,811,286
2085 82,727,738 35,640,228
2084 83,141,354 35,459,328
2083 83,562,394 35,271,139
2082 83,998,809 35,081,992
2081 84,447,888 34,876,198
2080 84,918,455 34,662,013
2079 85,406,042 34,442,751
2078 85,916,840 34,220,306
2077 86,453,316 33,985,899
2076 87,012,155 33,742,198
2075 87,597,053 33,498,815
2074 88,209,803 33,247,764
2073 88,854,316 32,981,390
2072 89,519,055 32,708,937
2071 90,204,314 32,448,602
2070 90,919,143 32,183,952
2069 91,645,589 31,909,601
2068 92,388,299 31,633,783
2067 93,133,993 31,348,096
2066 93,889,902 31,065,618
2065 94,654,259 30,769,538
2064 95,412,429 30,482,622
2063 96,169,244 30,178,760
2062 96,924,236 29,870,308
2061 97,675,525 29,559,670
2060 98,422,553 29,254,998
2059 99,166,038 28,947,636
2058 99,890,950 28,634,199
2057 100,607,740 28,309,796
2056 101,318,164 27,993,176
2055 102,012,184 27,661,321
2054 102,706,063 27,334,325
2053 103,381,833 26,989,310
2052 104,059,800 26,645,898
2051 104,729,745 26,289,905
2050 105,400,477 25,937,176
2049 106,076,354 25,587,491
2048 106,754,699 25,230,302
2047 107,442,881 24,876,838
2046 108,139,155 24,515,600
2045 108,844,934 24,149,762
2044 109,553,441 23,785,181
2043 110,269,851 23,404,024
2042 110,992,599 23,037,316
2041 111,729,216 22,649,943
2040 112,463,507 22,275,480
2039 113,200,859 21,904,908
2038 113,940,856 21,532,024
2037 114,687,611 21,161,527
2036 115,436,359 20,792,863
2035 116,187,949 20,415,452
2034 116,936,734 20,049,783
2033 117,678,572 19,678,070
2032 118,419,247 19,313,685
2031 119,153,646 18,960,968
2030 119,882,512 18,615,376
2029 120,600,781 18,271,657
2028 121,314,239 17,935,044
2027 122,015,984 17,602,533
2026 122,704,252 17,274,728
2025 123,366,734 16,950,795
2024 123,975,371 16,634,373
2023 124,516,650 16,340,822
2022 125,124,989 16,069,056
2021 125,681,593 15,797,210
2020 126,261,000 15,526,888
2019 126,633,000 15,271,368
2018 126,811,000 15,034,452
2017 126,972,000 14,812,482
2016 127,076,000 14,600,294
2015 127,141,000 14,399,013
2014 127,276,000 14,207,359
2013 127,445,000 14,013,808
2012 127,629,000 13,817,887
2011 127,833,000 13,595,424
2010 128,070,000 13,356,548
2009 128,047,000 13,142,790
2008 128,063,000 12,959,149
2007 128,001,000 12,804,058
2006 127,854,000 12,636,445
2005 127,773,000 12,483,432
2004 127,761,000 12,365,896
2003 127,718,000 12,232,323
2002 127,445,000 12,087,653
2001 127,149,000 11,971,901
2000 126,843,000 11,892,055
1999 126,631,000 11,783,458
1998 126,400,000 11,594,297
1997 126,057,000 11,369,827
1996 125,757,000 11,158,360
1995 125,472,000 10,974,599
1994 125,178,000 10,873,148
1993 124,829,000 10,860,288
1992 124,425,000 10,702,700
1991 123,964,000 10,404,816
1990 123,478,000 10,137,281
1989 123,069,000 9,864,798
1988 122,578,000 9,583,094
1987 122,069,000 9,284,644
1986 121,482,000 8,982,578
1985 120,837,000 8,686,813
1984 120,083,000 8,391,488
1983 119,307,000 8,098,404
1982 118,480,000 7,796,496
1981 117,661,000 7,498,635
1980 116,807,000 7,041,303
1979 115,890,000 6,647,556
1978 114,913,000 6,543,575
1977 113,872,000 6,449,512
1976 112,775,000 6,287,105
1975 111,573,000 6,098,658
1974 110,162,000 5,908,328
1973 108,707,000 5,720,404
1972 107,188,000 5,542,445
1971 105,697,000 5,374,712
1970 103,403,000 5,215,918
1969 102,219,000 5,058,181
1968 101,011,000 4,900,440
1967 99,879,000 4,748,307
1966 98,851,000 4,601,217
1965 97,952,000 4,458,462
1964 96,903,000 4,320,006
1963 95,900,000 4,185,877
1962 94,933,000 4,055,959
1961 94,055,000 3,930,401
1960 93,216,000 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Zimbabwe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 37.5M 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
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Zimbabwe
2100 -0.5% 0.19%
2099 -0.49% 0.23%
2098 -0.48% 0.25%
2097 -0.48% 0.25%
2096 -0.48% 0.3%
2095 -0.47% 0.32%
2094 -0.47% 0.28%
2093 -0.47% 0.33%
2092 -0.47% 0.33%
2091 -0.47% 0.39%
2090 -0.47% 0.4%
2089 -0.47% 0.39%
2088 -0.47% 0.46%
2087 -0.48% 0.47%
2086 -0.49% 0.48%
2085 -0.5% 0.51%
2084 -0.5% 0.53%
2083 -0.52% 0.54%
2082 -0.53% 0.59%
2081 -0.55% 0.62%
2080 -0.57% 0.64%
2079 -0.59% 0.65%
2078 -0.62% 0.69%
2077 -0.64% 0.72%
2076 -0.67% 0.73%
2075 -0.69% 0.76%
2074 -0.73% 0.81%
2073 -0.74% 0.83%
2072 -0.76% 0.8%
2071 -0.79% 0.82%
2070 -0.79% 0.86%
2069 -0.8% 0.87%
2068 -0.8% 0.91%
2067 -0.81% 0.91%
2066 -0.81% 0.96%
2065 -0.79% 0.94%
2064 -0.79% 1.01%
2063 -0.78% 1.03%
2062 -0.77% 1.05%
2061 -0.76% 1.04%
2060 -0.75% 1.06%
2059 -0.73% 1.09%
2058 -0.71% 1.15%
2057 -0.7% 1.13%
2056 -0.68% 1.2%
2055 -0.68% 1.2%
2054 -0.65% 1.28%
2053 -0.65% 1.29%
2052 -0.64% 1.35%
2051 -0.64% 1.36%
2050 -0.64% 1.37%
2049 -0.64% 1.42%
2048 -0.64% 1.42%
2047 -0.64% 1.47%
2046 -0.65% 1.51%
2045 -0.65% 1.53%
2044 -0.65% 1.63%
2043 -0.65% 1.59%
2042 -0.66% 1.71%
2041 -0.65% 1.68%
2040 -0.65% 1.69%
2039 -0.65% 1.73%
2038 -0.65% 1.75%
2037 -0.65% 1.77%
2036 -0.65% 1.85%
2035 -0.64% 1.82%
2034 -0.63% 1.89%
2033 -0.63% 1.89%
2032 -0.62% 1.86%
2031 -0.61% 1.86%
2030 -0.6% 1.88%
2029 -0.59% 1.88%
2028 -0.58% 1.89%
2027 -0.56% 1.9%
2026 -0.54% 1.91%
2025 -0.49% 1.9%
2024 -0.43% 1.8%
2023 -0.49% 1.69%
2022 -0.44% 1.72%
2021 -0.46% 1.74%
2020 -0.29% 1.67%
2019 -0.14% 1.58%
2018 -0.13% 1.5%
2017 -0.08% 1.45%
2016 -0.05% 1.4%
2015 -0.11% 1.35%
2014 -0.13% 1.38%
2013 -0.14% 1.42%
2012 -0.16% 1.64%
2011 -0.19% 1.79%
2010 0.02% 1.63%
2009 -0.01% 1.42%
2008 0.05% 1.21%
2007 0.11% 1.33%
2006 0.06% 1.23%
2005 0.009% 0.95%
2004 0.03% 1.09%
2003 0.21% 1.2%
2002 0.23% 0.97%
2001 0.24% 0.67%
2000 0.17% 0.92%
1999 0.18% 1.63%
1998 0.27% 1.97%
1997 0.24% 1.9%
1996 0.23% 1.67%
1995 0.23% 0.93%
1994 0.28% 0.12%
1993 0.32% 1.47%
1992 0.37% 2.86%
1991 0.39% 2.64%
1990 0.33% 2.76%
1989 0.4% 2.94%
1988 0.42% 3.21%
1987 0.48% 3.36%
1986 0.53% 3.4%
1985 0.63% 3.52%
1984 0.65% 3.62%
1983 0.7% 3.87%
1982 0.7% 3.97%
1981 0.73% 6.49%
1980 0.79% 5.92%
1979 0.85% 1.59%
1978 0.91% 1.46%
1977 0.97% 2.58%
1976 1.08% 3.09%
1975 1.28% 3.22%
1974 1.34% 3.29%
1973 1.42% 3.21%
1972 1.41% 3.12%
1971 2.22% 3.04%
1970 1.16% 3.12%
1969 1.2% 3.22%
1968 1.13% 3.2%
1967 1.04% 3.2%
1966 0.92% 3.2%
1965 1.08% 3.2%
1964 1.05% 3.2%
1963 1.02% 3.2%
1962 0.93% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Japan Zimbabwe
Current population
122704252
17443108
Population rank 12/197 74/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.21%
One net population change
52 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +867
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 53/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -54,555
Net migration rank 10/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -54,555
2024 -942,213 153,357 372,494 -60,528
2023 -871,617 175,003 372,505 -97,380
2022 -825,825 175,003 371,243 -102,828
2021 -640,976 -34,996 349,908 -74,623
2020 -542,923 42,001 354,790 -89,440
2019 -531,858 318,190 348,798 -103,107
2018 -456,520 320,601 345,883 -117,758
2017 -406,310 322,564 344,035 -128,241
2016 -343,106 314,732 348,772 -140,181
2015 -292,424 168,896 356,203 -162,220
2014 -267,279 58,109 366,350 -177,029
2013 -242,146 66,449 374,757 -176,972
2012 -229,733 67,904 371,135 -177,061
2011 -204,533 97,720 359,572 -108,714
2010 -128,070 131,860 335,570 -108,671
2009 -76,828 125,450 309,316 -108,689
2008 -51,225 142,605 280,527 -113,858
2007 -25,600 138,024 261,805 -118,299
2006 12,785 130,065 248,963 -57,257
2005 -25,554 113,017 248,545 -134,212
2004 76,656 69,014 248,307 -127,550
2003 114,946 74,875 243,057 -96,667
2002 178,423 60,864 244,170 -101,212
2001 203,438 59,563 227,909 -139,361
2000 228,317 23,468 236,343 -165,181
1999 202,610 56,901 232,393 -86,343
1998 265,440 45,912 225,614 6,645
1997 277,325 43,366 216,288 395
1996 314,392 25,030 205,269 978
1995 276,039 87,714 206,695 -45,428
1994 363,017 154,214 216,343 -174,723
1993 312,073 168,836 228,045 -243,947
1992 360,833 170,878 255,291 75,788
1991 396,685 161,331 260,943 3,749
1990 407,478 124,582 265,444 4,948
1989 467,662 31,202 270,838 3,736
1988 527,085 51,154 277,498 11,327
1987 598,138 28,001 286,766 21,308
1986 631,706 27,987 289,894 6,154
1985 676,687 -141,323 290,756 4,718
1984 756,523 -273,686 290,052 5,124
1983 775,495 -269,755 286,545 4,456
1982 805,664 -288,550 279,934 32,899
1981 811,861 -278,525 271,361 11,523
1980 864,372 -92,314 241,179 390,593
1979 950,298 -57,692 223,657 -67,937
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 222,979 -170,727
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 225,139 -89,270
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 221,419 -32,495
1975 1,204,989 107 216,947 -28,988
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 208,806 -16,105
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 201,885 -18,733
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 193,725 -20,959
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 185,427 -22,719
1970 1,230,496 33,731 178,979 -24,102
1969 1,195,962 49,447 172,626 -12,028
1968 1,191,930 43,593 166,865 -11,997
1967 1,258,475 29,632 161,205 -11,814
1966 682,072 68,934 156,014 -11,211
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 151,164 -10,465
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 145,848 -9,631
1963 987,770 -100,742 140,984 -8,936
1962 901,864 -57,075 136,317 -8,529
1961 893,522 -58,882 131,531 -8,204
1960 894,874 -150,371 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/japan/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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