Nepalis among those contributing to rise in Japan's foreign population

The latest census shows that Nepalis have made a significant contribution to the rise in the number of foreign residents in Japan.

According to the final results of the 2025 census released Tuesday, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached nearly 3.84 million.

This is an increase of about 1.093 million, or roughly 40 percent, compared to 2020. Data shows that the growing numbers of Vietnamese and Nepali residents also played a role in this increase.

Including foreigners, Japan's total population stood at about 123 million as of October 1, 2025. This is a decrease of about 3.17 million, or roughly 2.5 percent, compared to 2020, marking the third consecutive census in which the total population has declined.

The share of people aged 65 and above reached about 29.4 percent, the highest ever, with this age group numbering more than 36.2 million people. This share has risen by about 0.9 percentage points compared to 2020.