Foreigners in Japan: 2026 Statistics

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Last reviewed: October 2026 · Data: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA), year-end 2025 statistics. Free to cite with a link to this page.

How many foreigners live in Japan? As of December 2025, a record 4,125,395 foreign residents were living in Japan — up 9.5% (+356,418 people) in a single year, and the first time the figure has ever exceeded 4 million. Roughly 1 in 30 people in Japan is now a foreign national.

This page compiles the key official statistics — total numbers, nationalities, visa types and where foreign residents live — in English, with sources, so you can cite them easily.

Key facts at a glance

• 4,125,395 foreign residents (Dec 2025) — all-time record
• +9.5% year-on-year growth (+356,418 people)
• ~3.3% of Japan’s total population
• 2,571,037 foreign workers — also an all-time record (MHLW)
• Largest group: Chinese nationals (930,428); fastest-rising visa: Specified Skilled Worker

Growth: foreign residents in Japan by year

Japan has added more than one million foreign residents in just three years — driven by post-pandemic reopening, chronic labor shortages, and the expansion of work visa programs.

Foreign residents by nationality (Top 10, Dec 2025)

Vietnam and Nepal are the stories of the decade: Vietnamese residents have grown into the clear No.2 community on the back of work programs, while Nepal — now over 300,000 — has surged with students and family visas. Myanmar is the fastest riser in percentage terms, reflecting both work programs and people leaving the post-coup economy.

Foreign residents by visa type (Dec 2025)

Nearly 1 million people now hold permanent residency — Japan’s quiet immigration milestone. The white-collar workhorse visa (“Gijinkoku”) covers 475,790 professionals, while the Specified Skilled Worker visa — created only in 2019 — is the fastest-growing category at 390,296, as it absorbs workers transitioning from the technical intern program.

Where foreign residents live (Top 5 prefectures)

What’s driving the growth?

Three forces. Labor shortage: Japan’s working-age population shrinks every year, and sectors from convenience stores to construction now depend on foreign staff — foreign workers hit a record 2,571,037 in 2025. Policy expansion: the SSW visa added new industries and a path to longer stays, while the technical intern program is being replaced by the more worker-friendly “Employment for Skill Development” system. Education pipeline: student numbers rebounded past pre-pandemic levels, and many graduates transition to work visas.

FAQ

What percentage of Japan’s population is foreign?

About 3.3% as of the end of 2025 (4.13 million of ~123 million). That is low by G7 standards but roughly double the share of a decade ago.

Which nationality is growing fastest?

In absolute terms Vietnam and Nepal added the most residents in recent years; in percentage terms Myanmar and Sri Lanka have grown fastest from smaller bases.

How many people have permanent residency in Japan?

947,125 as of December 2025 — the largest single status of residence, and on track to pass one million in 2026.

Can I cite these numbers?

Yes. All figures are from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (在留外国人統計, Dec 2025) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (foreign worker statistics). Feel free to cite this page with a link.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan — 在留外国人統計 (Statistics on Foreign Residents), December 2025
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Foreign worker employment reports, 2025

Related guides

• Japan Cost of Living 2026: Complete Monthly Budget Guide
• Japan Work Visa Guide 2026: Every Option for Foreigners
• Japan Pension Refund Calculator (Free Tool)
• How to Open a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner

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