Population ages 65 and above, total in Japan
Japan: Population ages 65 and above, total was 37.00 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
37.00 million
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
4th
of 218 countries
All-time high
37.00 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.35 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population ages 65 and above, total in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, total in Japan is 37.00 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in Japan peaked at 37.00 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.35 million, in 1960.
Japan ranks 4th 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, total in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.35 million | — |
| 1961 | 5.50 million | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 5.65 million | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 5.82 million | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 6.00 million | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 6.20 million | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 6.43 million | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 6.68 million | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 6.89 million | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 7.11 million | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 7.30 million | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 7.61 million | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 7.92 million | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 8.23 million | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 8.53 million | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 8.84 million | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 9.17 million | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 9.52 million | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 9.88 million | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 10.24 million | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 10.59 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 10.95 million | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 11.30 million | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 11.64 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 12.05 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 12.51 million | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 12.93 million | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 13.38 million | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 13.86 million | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 14.41 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 15.01 million | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 15.67 million | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 16.36 million | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 17.03 million | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 17.71 million | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 18.39 million | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 19.12 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 19.87 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 20.63 million | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 21.36 million | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 22.12 million | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 22.93 million | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 23.70 million | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 24.39 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 25.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 25.91 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 26.82 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 27.68 million | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 28.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 29.15 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 29.58 million | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 30.24 million | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 31.29 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 32.39 million | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 33.38 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 34.23 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 34.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 35.52 million | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 35.94 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 36.25 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 36.51 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 36.72 million | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 36.79 million | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 36.81 million | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 36.92 million | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 37.00 million | +0.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 37.00 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 297,914, 124.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 37.00 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,535, 357.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.16 million | 5.35 million | 7.11 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.72 million | 7.30 million | 10.24 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.36 million | 10.59 million | 14.41 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.12 million | 15.01 million | 21.36 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.63 million | 22.12 million | 29.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.38 million | 29.58 million | 36.25 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.79 million | 36.51 million | 37.00 million | 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0155 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in Japan?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in Japan was 37.00 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 37.00 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.35 million in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Japan ranks 4th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. 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, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.