Share of population living in urban areas in Japan
Japan: Share of population living in urban areas was 91.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Japan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban areas in Japan stood at 91.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Japan peaked at 91.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 86.2%, in 1950.
Japan ranks 25th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 86.2% | — |
| 1955 | 87.3% | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 87.9% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 88.4% | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 89.0% | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 89.7% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 89.9% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 90.0% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 90.2% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 90.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 90.9% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 91.1% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 91.2% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 91.1% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 91.1% | -0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 91.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 91.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.5%, 1.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 86.8% | 86.2% | 87.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 88.1% | 87.9% | 88.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 89.4% | 89.0% | 89.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 89.9% | 89.9% | 90.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 90.5% | 90.2% | 90.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 91.0% | 90.9% | 91.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 91.2% | 91.1% | 91.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 91.1% | 91.1% | 91.1% | 1 |
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 share of population living in urban areas in Japan?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Japan was 91.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 91.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.2% in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Japan ranks 25th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.