Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Japan

Urban population share in Japan in 2025 — 92.3%. Ranked 26 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 29 pp.

2025 92.3% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 26of 217
Period maximum 92.3%2025
Period minimum 63.3%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Japan, 1960–20256070809010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 63.3%1962: 65.2%1964: 67%1966: 68.7%1968: 70.3%1970: 71.9%1972: 73.7%1974: 75.4%1976: 76%1978: 76.1%1980: 76.2%1982: 76.3%1984: 76.6%1986: 76.8%1988: 77.1%1990: 77.3%1992: 77.6%1994: 77.9%1996: 78.1%1998: 78.3%2000: 78.6%2002: 80.5%2004: 84.4%2006: 87.1%2008: 89.3%2010: 90.6%2012: 91%2014: 91.3%2016: 91.5%2018: 91.6%2020: 91.8%2022: 92%2024: 92.2%2025: 92.3%
Change over the period: +29 pp Annual average: 0.45 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Japan

Japan 92.3%
World 57.8%
Eastern Asia computed 68.9%
High-income countries computed 80.3%
Urban population share — Japan, by year Japan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 92.3 +0.1 pp
2024 92.2 +0.1 pp
2023 92.1 +0.1 pp
2022 92 +0.1 pp
2021 91.9 +0.1 pp
2020 91.8 +0.1 pp
2019 91.7 +0.1 pp
2018 91.6 +0.1 pp
2017 91.5 +0.1 pp
2016 91.5 +0.1 pp
2015 91.4 +0.1 pp
2014 91.3 +0.1 pp
2013 91.2 +0.1 pp
2012 91 +0.2 pp
2011 90.9 +0.2 pp
2010 90.6 +0.5 pp
2009 90.1 +0.8 pp
2008 89.3 +1 pp
2007 88.3 +1.1 pp
2006 87.1 +1.2 pp
2005 86 +1.6 pp
2004 84.4 +2 pp
2003 82.4 +1.9 pp
2002 80.5 +1.4 pp
2001 79.2 +0.5 pp
2000 78.6 +0.2 pp
1999 78.4 +0.1 pp
1998 78.3 +0.1 pp
1997 78.2 +0.1 pp
1996 78.1 +0.1 pp
1995 78 +0.1 pp
1994 77.9 +0.1 pp
1993 77.7 +0.1 pp
1992 77.6 +0.1 pp
1991 77.5 +0.1 pp
1990 77.3 +0.1 pp
1989 77.2 +0.1 pp
1988 77.1 +0.1 pp
1987 76.9 +0.1 pp
1986 76.8 +0.1 pp
1985 76.7 +0.1 pp
1984 76.6 +0.1 pp
1983 76.5 +0.1 pp
1982 76.3 +0.1 pp
1981 76.3 +0.1 pp
1980 76.2 +0.1 pp
1979 76.1 +0 pp
1978 76.1 +0 pp
1977 76 +0.1 pp
1976 76 +0.1 pp
1975 75.9 +0.4 pp
1974 75.4 +0.8 pp
1973 74.6 +1 pp
1972 73.7 +1 pp
1971 72.7 +0.8 pp
1970 71.9 +0.8 pp
1969 71.1 +0.8 pp
1968 70.3 +0.8 pp
1967 69.5 +0.8 pp
1966 68.7 +0.8 pp
1965 67.9 +0.9 pp
1964 67 +0.9 pp
1963 66.1 +0.9 pp
1962 65.2 +1 pp
1961 64.3 +1 pp
1960 63.3

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.