Japan’s population declined by a record 2.5% over five years, dropping to about 123 million in 2025, the largest fall since 1920.

This marks the third straight census showing a population decrease, driven by an aging society and a natural decrease where deaths outpace births.

Births fell for the tenth consecutive year in 2025, totaling roughly 706,000, underscoring ongoing demographic challenges.

Officials are pursuing centralized and local measures to address the decline, but results remain uneven across regions.

Immigration is framed as the most straightforward fix, yet policy choices emphasize self-reliance and domestic incentives over openness to foreign residents.

Experts warn that fertility policies have not moved the needle and that a reversal is unlikely in the near term without large-scale immigration, a stance mirrored by many other countries facing similar trends.

Policy implications are rising, with pressure to sustain regional communities and the economy amid ongoing demographic decline.

A government spokesperson underscored efforts to decentralize populations and businesses to regional areas to ease Tokyo’s overconcentration.

National debate persists on immigration, with leadership voting for a tougher stance on inflows as policymakers weigh foreign workers against demographic needs.

The decline worsens labor shortages, healthcare strain, and urban-rural shifts as people flock to opportunities in larger cities.

Tokyo’s metro area now houses about 37 million people, about 30% of the nationwide population, while cautious immigration policy and nationalist sentiment complicate offsetting trends.

Coverage frames the trend as a demographic crisis with potential far-reaching impacts on Japan’s economy and social systems, prompting urgent policy debate.