TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The total number of Japanese nationals in Japan fell below 120 million for the first time in 42 years to 119,736,483 as of January 1 of this year.
According to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, citing Antara as quoted from Xinhua, this figure marks a decrease of 917,000 compared to the previous year, the largest decline since comparable data began being available in 1968.
The figures reflect Japan's continued struggle with a rapidly aging society and persistent low birth rate, according to Kyodo News.
Of Japan's 47 prefectures, Tokyo was the only one to record a 0.09 percent increase in the number of Japanese citizens, the data shows.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign residents rose by 354,000 to a record 4,031,159. This is the highest figure since the ministry began collecting data in 2013.
Citing Anadolu, the rising number of foreign residents come as the country is expanding access for foreign workers to address labor shortage that has plagued Japan for a while. Of these numbers, 86.17% are accounted by working-age foreigners.
Hokkaido posted the largest increase in foreign residents at 14.89%, followed by Okinawa with 14.36% and Oita with 13.90%.
Japan's total population, including foreign residents, stood at 123,767,642, down about 563,000 from the previous year. Population growth was reported only in Tokyo, Chiba, and Osaka prefectures.
Read: Germany's Birth Rate Reached Lowest Level on Record in 2025
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