Japan's net migration was 140,579 in 2025, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is down 16.77% from 168,896 in 2015 (1.82% a year on average, compounded).
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 140,579 | 2025 |
| Five years earlier | 42,001 | 2020 |
| Ten years earlier | 168,896 | 2015 |
| Highest | 322,564 | 2017 |
| Lowest | -288,550 | 1982 |
| Average since 2016 | 192,703 | 2016–2025 |
| First recorded | -150,371 | 1960 |
What the numbers say
In 2025, Japan's net migration fell 12,778 on 2024 (from 153,357 to 140,579).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −28.57 and a typical year strayed about 78,043 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 209,999 in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 276,189 in 2020. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 24,160 a year. A straight line explains 34% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2025, Japan had the 10th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 140,579 | 2025 |
| World | 0 | 2025 |
| East Asia & Pacific | -37,630 | 2025 |
| High income | 2.38 million | 2025 |
Closest to Japan in the 2025 ranking
- Malaysia — 7th of 217: 166,615
- United Arab Emirates — 8th of 217: 158,634
- South Africa — 9th of 217: 146,370
- Australia — 11th of 217: 137,109
- Colombia — 12th of 217: 129,139
- Saudi Arabia — 13th of 217: 119,738
What this measures
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.
Limitations: International migration is the component of population change most difficult to measure and estimate reliably. Thus, the quality and quantity of the data used in the estimation and projection of net migration varies considerably by country. Furthermore, the movement of people across international boundaries, which is very often a response to changing socio-economic, political and environmental forces, is subject to a great deal of volatility. Refugee movements, for instance, may involve large numbers of people moving across boundaries in a short time.
Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.
All 66 values
| Year | Net migration |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 140,579 |
| 2024 | 153,357 |
| 2023 | 175,003 |
| 2022 | 175,003 |
| 2021 | -34,996 |
| 2020 | 42,001 |
| 2019 | 318,190 |
| 2018 | 320,601 |
| 2017 | 322,564 |
| 2016 | 314,732 |
| 2015 |
Net migration in nearby economies
- American Samoa — -1,051 (2025)
- Australia — 137,109 (2025)
- Brunei Darussalam — 0 (2025)
- Cambodia — -31,469 (2025)
- China — -268,126 (2025)
- Fiji — -3,288 (2025)
- French Polynesia — -1,199 (2025)
- Guam — -493 (2025)
- Hong Kong SAR, China — 17,863 (2025)
- Indonesia — -39,509 (2025)
- Kiribati — -462 (2025)
- Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — -2,787 (2025)
- Korea, Rep.
More social protection & labor data for Japan
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (national estimate) — 55.14% (2025)
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) — 69.8% (2025)
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) — 62.23% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) — 56.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) — 78.66% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) — 71.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) — 63.8% (2025)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Japan's net migration?
- 140,579 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1960?
- It is up 193.49% from -150,371 in 1960. The highest value was 322,564 in 2017 and the lowest -288,550 in 1982.
- How does Japan rank?
- 10th highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.
- Is the latest change in net migration unusual for Japan?
- In 2025, Japan's net migration fell 12,778 on 2024 (from 153,357 to 140,579). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −28.57 and a typical year strayed about 78,043 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
- Where does this data come from?
- The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.NETM, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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