Population ages 65 and above in Japan
Japan: Population ages 65 and above was 30.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above in Japan is 30.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above in Japan peaked at 30.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 1960.
Japan ranks 2nd of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.7% | — |
| 1961 | 5.8% | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 6.0% | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 6.1% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 6.2% | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 6.3% | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 6.5% | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 6.7% | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 6.8% | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 7.0% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 7.1% | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 7.2% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 7.4% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 7.6% | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 7.7% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 7.9% | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 8.1% | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 8.4% | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 8.6% | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 8.8% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 9.1% | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 9.3% | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 9.5% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 9.8% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 10.0% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 10.4% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 10.6% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 11.0% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 11.3% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 11.7% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 12.2% | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 13.1% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 15.2% | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 15.8% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 16.3% | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 16.9% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 17.4% | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 18.0% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 18.6% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 20.3% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 21.0% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 21.6% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 22.3% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 22.8% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 24.5% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 25.4% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 26.2% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 26.9% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 28.3% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 28.6% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 28.9% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 29.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 29.6% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 29.8% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 30.0% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.3% | 5.7% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.9% | 7.1% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.3% | 9.1% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.5% | 12.2% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 17.4% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 23.1% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.5% | 28.9% | 30.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More health data for Japan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate -4.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0341 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above in Japan?
- Population ages 65 and above in Japan was 30.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for population ages 65 and above?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.