Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 7.07 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 -0.25% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Japan vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Zimbabwe
2100 76,978,998 37,483,053
2099 77,363,458 37,412,398
2098 77,742,445 37,328,255
2097 78,118,375 37,235,542
2096 78,498,614 37,142,915
2095 78,875,245 37,032,129
2094 79,250,325 36,912,747
2093 79,628,057 36,810,893
2092 80,007,967 36,688,511
2091 80,383,529 36,567,262
2090 80,760,724 36,425,606
2089 81,140,553 36,280,973
2088 81,521,696 36,141,446
2087 81,908,373 35,977,638
2086 82,304,497 35,808,135
2085 82,709,534 35,637,092
2084 83,123,058 35,456,207
2083 83,544,006 35,268,035
2082 83,980,325 35,078,904
2081 84,429,305 34,873,129
2080 84,899,768 34,658,962
2079 85,387,247 34,439,720
2078 85,897,934 34,217,295
2077 86,434,291 33,982,909
2076 86,993,007 33,739,228
2075 87,577,777 33,495,867
2074 88,190,392 33,244,838
2073 88,834,763 32,978,488
2072 89,499,356 32,706,059
2071 90,184,464 32,445,747
2070 90,899,136 32,181,119
2069 91,625,421 31,906,793
2068 92,367,969 31,631,000
2067 93,113,499 31,345,338
2066 93,869,240 31,062,884
2065 94,633,430 30,766,830
2064 95,391,433 30,479,939
2063 96,148,081 30,176,104
2062 96,902,907 29,867,679
2061 97,654,031 29,557,068
2060 98,400,894 29,252,423
2059 99,144,216 28,945,088
2058 99,868,968 28,631,679
2057 100,585,601 28,307,305
2056 101,295,868 27,990,713
2055 101,989,736 27,658,887
2054 102,683,462 27,331,920
2053 103,359,083 26,986,935
2052 104,036,901 26,643,553
2051 104,706,698 26,287,592
2050 105,377,283 25,934,893
2049 106,053,011 25,585,239
2048 106,731,207 25,228,082
2047 107,419,237 24,874,649
2046 108,115,358 24,513,443
2045 108,820,982 24,147,637
2044 109,529,333 23,783,088
2043 110,245,586 23,401,965
2042 110,968,174 23,035,288
2041 111,704,629 22,647,950
2040 112,438,759 22,273,520
2039 113,175,948 21,902,980
2038 113,915,783 21,530,130
2037 114,662,374 21,159,664
2036 115,410,956 20,791,034
2035 116,162,381 20,413,656
2034 116,911,001 20,048,019
2033 117,652,676 19,676,339
2032 118,393,188 19,311,985
2031 119,127,425 18,959,300
2030 119,856,131 18,613,738
2029 120,574,242 18,270,049
2028 121,287,543 17,933,466
2027 121,989,133 17,600,984
2026 122,677,250 17,273,208
2025 123,339,586 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% 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 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 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 -0.51% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Japan Zimbabwe
Current population
122677250
17361868
Population rank 12/197 74/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.21%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +804
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 60/197
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 - 153,357 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/japan/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.