Urban area over the long-term in Japan
Japan: Urban area over the long-term was 13,979 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
13,979 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
12th
of 202 countries
All-time high
13,979 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
17.02 km² per grid cell
in 1100
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Japan, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Japan stood at 13,979 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Japan peaked at 13,979 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.02 km² per grid cell, in 1100.
Japan ranks 12th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Japan, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 83.38 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 17.02 km² per grid cell | -79.6% |
| 1200 | 26.35 km² per grid cell | +54.8% |
| 1300 | 45.09 km² per grid cell | +71.1% |
| 1400 | 86.16 km² per grid cell | +91.1% |
| 1500 | 170.93 km² per grid cell | +98.4% |
| 1600 | 358.43 km² per grid cell | +109.7% |
| 1700 | 628.27 km² per grid cell | +75.3% |
| 1710 | 675.08 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1720 | 664.37 km² per grid cell | -1.6% |
| 1730 | 649.32 km² per grid cell | -2.3% |
| 1740 | 629.03 km² per grid cell | -3.1% |
| 1750 | 602.97 km² per grid cell | -4.1% |
| 1760 | 567.2 km² per grid cell | -5.9% |
| 1770 | 526.91 km² per grid cell | -7.1% |
| 1780 | 483.65 km² per grid cell | -8.2% |
| 1790 | 439.36 km² per grid cell | -9.2% |
| 1800 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | -9.9% |
| 1810 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 396.06 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 404.29 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 450.7 km² per grid cell | +11.5% |
| 1900 | 1,344 km² per grid cell | +198.1% |
| 1910 | 1,640 km² per grid cell | +22.1% |
| 1920 | 1,984 km² per grid cell | +20.9% |
| 1930 | 2,603 km² per grid cell | +31.2% |
| 1940 | 3,187 km² per grid cell | +22.4% |
| 1950 | 4,313 km² per grid cell | +35.3% |
| 1951 | 4,502 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 4,657 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 4,807 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 4,954 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 5,097 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 5,309 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 5,450 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 5,593 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 5,738 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 5,887 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 6,048 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 6,214 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 6,380 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 6,525 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 6,699 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 6,978 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 7,269 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 7,505 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 7,749 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 8,001 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 8,229 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 8,518 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 8,809 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 9,030 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 9,231 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 9,446 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 9,633 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 9,816 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 9,981 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 10,146 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 10,272 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 10,385 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 10,495 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 10,601 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 10,771 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 10,896 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 11,029 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 11,159 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 11,286 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 11,488 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 11,602 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 11,711 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 11,890 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 11,997 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 12,101 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 12,168 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 12,226 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 12,279 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 12,331 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 12,383 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 12,434 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 12,485 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 12,537 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 12,589 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12,642 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 12,685 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 12,726 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 12,768 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 12,809 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 12,850 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 12,918 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 12,986 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 13,124 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 13,192 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 13,291 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 13,363 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 13,435 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 13,507 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 13,579 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 13,677 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 13,787 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 13,828 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 13,868 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 13,908 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 13,979 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 13,979 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 13.9× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Japan's 13,979 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 14.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | +198.1% | 450.7 km² per grid cell | 1,344 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +109.7% | 170.93 km² per grid cell | 358.43 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +98.4% | 86.16 km² per grid cell | 170.93 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +91.1% | 45.09 km² per grid cell | 86.16 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | -79.6% | 83.38 km² per grid cell | 17.02 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +75.3% | 358.43 km² per grid cell | 628.27 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 83.38 km² per grid cell | 83.38 km² per grid cell | 83.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 17.02 km² per grid cell | 17.02 km² per grid cell | 17.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 26.35 km² per grid cell | 26.35 km² per grid cell | 26.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 45.09 km² per grid cell | 45.09 km² per grid cell | 45.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 86.16 km² per grid cell | 86.16 km² per grid cell | 86.16 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 170.93 km² per grid cell | 170.93 km² per grid cell | 170.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 358.43 km² per grid cell | 358.43 km² per grid cell | 358.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 628.27 km² per grid cell | 628.27 km² per grid cell | 628.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 675.08 km² per grid cell | 675.08 km² per grid cell | 675.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 664.37 km² per grid cell | 664.37 km² per grid cell | 664.37 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 649.32 km² per grid cell | 649.32 km² per grid cell | 649.32 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 629.03 km² per grid cell | 629.03 km² per grid cell | 629.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 602.97 km² per grid cell | 602.97 km² per grid cell | 602.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 567.2 km² per grid cell | 567.2 km² per grid cell | 567.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 526.91 km² per grid cell | 526.91 km² per grid cell | 526.91 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 483.65 km² per grid cell | 483.65 km² per grid cell | 483.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 439.36 km² per grid cell | 439.36 km² per grid cell | 439.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 396.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 404.29 km² per grid cell | 404.29 km² per grid cell | 404.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 450.7 km² per grid cell | 450.7 km² per grid cell | 450.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 1,344 km² per grid cell | 1,344 km² per grid cell | 1,344 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 1,640 km² per grid cell | 1,640 km² per grid cell | 1,640 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,984 km² per grid cell | 1,984 km² per grid cell | 1,984 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 2,603 km² per grid cell | 2,603 km² per grid cell | 2,603 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 3,187 km² per grid cell | 3,187 km² per grid cell | 3,187 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 5,042 km² per grid cell | 4,313 km² per grid cell | 5,738 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 6,725 km² per grid cell | 5,887 km² per grid cell | 7,749 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,069 km² per grid cell | 8,001 km² per grid cell | 9,981 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,704 km² per grid cell | 10,146 km² per grid cell | 11,286 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,979 km² per grid cell | 11,488 km² per grid cell | 12,331 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 12,606 km² per grid cell | 12,383 km² per grid cell | 12,809 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,224 km² per grid cell | 12,850 km² per grid cell | 13,579 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,841 km² per grid cell | 13,677 km² per grid cell | 13,979 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Japan?
- Urban area over the long-term in Japan was 13,979 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 13,979 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.02 km² per grid cell in 1100.
- How does Japan rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Japan ranks 12th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.