The number of foreign residents in Japan continues to rise, and as of the end of 2024 (Reiwa 6), it has reached an all-time high.

In this article, we provide the latest figures based on the official announcement by the Immigration Services Agency on March 14, 2025.

Foreign Resident Population at the End of 2024

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the total number of foreign residents in Japan as of December 31, 2024, was 3,768,977, marking an increase of 357,985 compared to the previous year’s 3,410,992 — a year-on-year increase of 10.5%. Of the total, 3,494,954 were mid-to-long-term residents, and 274,023 were special permanent residents.

Top 10 Countries and Regions (as of End of 2024)
1. China: 844,608
2. Vietnam: 589,940
3. South Korea: 410,257
4. Philippines: 336,164
5. Brazil: 209,775
6. Nepal: 207,725
7. Indonesia: 173,389
8. Myanmar: 108,216
9. United States: 64,956
10. Taiwan: 64,880

These figures are based on the official data as of the end of 2024. For more details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency’s official announcement. (Link below)

Key Changes Compared to 2023 and Previous Years

The number of foreign residents at the end of 2023 was 3,410,992. The increase in 2024 of 357,985 is one of the largest ever recorded.

Notable trends include:
• A significant rise in foreign workers under Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker visas, reflecting Japan’s growing need for labor.
• Vietnamese nationals continued their upward trend, increasing by approximately 51,000 year-on-year.
• Nepali and Indonesian nationals also increased, especially in service and caregiving industries.
• The number of Chinese residents remained relatively stable, showing only a slight increase, and their proportion of the total slightly decreased.
• A sharp rise in residents from Vietnam, Nepal, and Indonesia has become more evident in recent years.
It is also worth noting that Japan is preparing to shift from the current Technical Intern Training program to a new system called “Developmental Employment”, though the implementation date has yet to be finalized.

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