MigrantoMigration trends in Japan
Asia
Japan takes in more people than it loses: 3.4M immigrants against 1M emigrants. Net balance +2.4M — 2% of the country's population
124M
Population
3.4M
Immigrants
1M
Emigrants
+2.4M
Inflow
1 in 36 residents of Japan was born abroad — and 1 in 124 people born in Japan lives abroad
#19 in the world by net migration gain
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Japan
Where people come from
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
1M immigrants · 710.8K emigrants
1995
- Surge of immigrants from Brazil — 115.9K new arrivals
2000
- Entered the world's 20 biggest immigrant destinations
2010
- China overtook South Korea as the largest source of new arrivals
- Migration accounted for 67% of the country's population growth
2015
- Entered the world's 20 biggest immigrant destinations
2020
- Surge of immigrants from Vietnam — 313.5K new arrivals
Today
- Slipped out of the 3 biggest immigrant destinations in Asia
- The diaspora passed 1M people
- Since 1990: 2.4M more foreign-born residents and 297.4K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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