Japan Population Live (2026)
The live population of Japan, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the largest countries on Earth.
Japan has an estimated population of about 123.3 million people in 2026 — 1.49% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 12th largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Japan's latest birth rate (6.3 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (12.8 per 1,000).
Is the population of Japan growing?
Not from births alone. Around 2,128 babies are born in Japan every day, but about 4,324 people die — so deaths outnumber births by roughly 2,196 a day (about 801,414 a year). Japan is one of 17 countries among the 72 we track where this has already happened. It is usually the result of two things at once: a birth rate that has been low for decades, and a large older generation.
A birth rate of 6.3 per 1,000 people is among the lowest in the world — fewer than 10 births per 1,000 people each year — which is the main reason Japan's population is getting older. It ranks 72nd of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
These figures count births and deaths only. Migration moves Japan's real population up or down each year, which is why official census figures can differ from our estimate.
Births and deaths in Japan
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 1.5 | 3.0 | -1.5 |
| Per hour | 89 | 180 | -91 |
| Per day | 2,128 | 4,324 | -2,196 |
| Per week | 14,897 | 30,266 | -15,370 |
| Per year | 776,755 | 1,578,170 | -801,414 |
How crowded is Japan?
With about 123.3 million people living on 377,975 km², Japan has roughly 326.2 people per square kilometre. That is around 5.3 times the world average of about 61 per km², making it the 9th most densely populated of the 72 countries we track. High density puts pressure on housing, transport and farmland, but it also makes cities and services cheaper to run per person.
Life expectancy in Japan
A baby born in Japan today can expect to live about 84.3 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That puts Japan among the longest-lived countries on Earth (1st of 72), thanks to strong healthcare, low child mortality and healthy diets. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $39,243 per person (21st of 72), Japan is an upper-middle or high-income economy. Countries at this level have usually already been through the "demographic transition" — the shift from large families and short lives to small families and long lives.
Japan at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 123,294,513 | 12 |
| Births per day | 2,128 | 26 |
| Deaths per day | 4,324 | 7 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 6.3 | 72 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 12.8 | 5 |
| Natural growth rate | -0.65% / year | 71 |
| Life expectancy | 84.3 years | 1 |
| Population density | 326.2 / km² | 9 |
| GDP per person | $39,243 | 21 |
| Area | 377,975 km² | — |
| Capital | Tokyo | — |
| Languages | Japanese | — |
| Currency | Japanese Yen (¥) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Japan's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Japan's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Japan in 2026?
The population of Japan in 2026 is estimated at about 123.3 million people, which is around 1.49% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Japan every day?
About 2,128 babies are born in Japan every day — roughly 89 per hour, or 776,755 per year — based on a birth rate of 6.3 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Japan every day?
About 4,324 people die in Japan every day — roughly 180 per hour, or 1.6 million per year — based on a death rate of 12.8 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Japan growing or shrinking?
Shrinking from natural change: deaths exceed births by about 2,196 people a day. Migration can offset part of this.
What is the life expectancy in Japan?
Life expectancy at birth in Japan is about 84.3 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Japan population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Japan's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.