Japan vs Germany: population
How Japan and Germany compare in population today and out to 2100, side by side, from UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Japan and Germany population, 2000-2100
Population 2000-2100
Side by side
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Population today | 123 million | 83.7 million |
| Population 2050 | 105 million | 78.4 million |
| Population 2100 | 77.0 million | 70.9 million |
| World rank | #12 | #19 |
| Peak year | 2010 | 2024 |
| Median age (2024) | 49 | 45 |
| Fertility rate (2024) | 1.22 | 1.45 |
| Life expectancy (2024) | 85 yrs | 82 yrs |
| Density (per km²) | 325 | 240 |
Why this comparison matters
Two of the world's great industrial economies, and two of its oldest societies. Japan and Germany both have populations past their peak and now in decline, but they manage it differently: Germany leans heavily on immigration to slow the fall, while Japan, with little immigration, is shrinking faster and ageing further.
Japan vs Germany, explained
Today Japan is the larger of the two, with about 123 million people against Germany's 83.7 million. Japan is the world's 12th most populous country and Germany the 19th.
Their paths to 2100 differ. Japan falls sharply over the century, moving from about 124 million to 77.0 million (-37.9%). Germany declines, going from 84.7 million to 70.9 million (-16.3%).
The order does not flip this century: Japan is still the larger of the two in 2100. The two trajectories run in parallel rather than crossing.
The deeper contrast is age and fertility. Japan has a median age near 49 and 1.22 births per woman, against Germany's 45 and 1.45. All figures follow the UN's medium-variant projection.