Japan, often perceived as a homogenous society, is steadily transforming into a more multicultural nation. Driven by factors like international study, work opportunities, and a pressing need to address its aging population and labor shortages, the number of foreign residents continues to rise. But who exactly is moving to Japan? Let's break down the official 2024 statistics to see the top 15 nationalities that call Japan home.
2024 Ranking: Foreign Residents
in Japan by Nationality
The following table ranks the top
15 nationalities of foreign residents living in Japan as of 2024.
Rank Nationality Number
of Residents Key Trends
& Background
1 China 844,187 The long-standing number one. Geographic proximity, a
large number of students, and white-collar professionals.
2 Vietnam 600,348 The fastest-growing community in recent years, largely
driven by technical intern trainees and university students.
3 Korea 411,043 Deep historical and cultural ties. A long-established
community includes corporate assignees and long-term residents.
4 Philippines 332,293 Significant
number of nurses/caregivers and individuals through international marriage.
Also many English teachers.
5 Brazil 232,325 Primarily comprised of Japanese-Brazilians (Nikkeijin),
who form distinct communities and often work in manufacturing.
6 Nepal 206,898 A massive increase in students and technical trainees.
Commonly seen working in the service industry (e.g., convenience stores).
7 Indonesia 173,333 Steady
flow of technical interns and nurse/caregiving candidates. A visible Muslim
community exists in major cities.
8 Myanmar 110,306 Numbers have surged recently due to an increase in
refugee status applications following the country's political situation.
9 Taiwan 67,277 Cultural similarity and geographic proximity fuel study
and work exchanges.
10 United States 64,842 High proportion of high-income
professionals: corporate assignees, English teachers, researchers, and military
personnel.
11 Thailand 63,689 Strong links to the Japanese food
industry (especially ramen shops). Many technical interns and marriage-based
residents.
12 Sri Lanka 66,179 A significant number of technical
intern trainees and refugee status applicants. An important labor force in
specific sectors.
13 India 51,345 Overwhelmingly high-skilled IT
engineers and professionals, filling the demand from Japan's digital
transformation.
14 Peru 49,247 Similar to Brazil, many are of
Japanese descent (Nikkeijin), often working in manufacturing and construction.
15 Bangladesh 31,536 A growing community, with numbers
steadily rising through the technical trainee and student visa routes.
Source: Japanese Ministry of Justice (IP meta.org)
Key Insights from the Data
1. Dominance of East & Southeast Asia: 11 of
the top 15 countries are within Asia. China, Vietnam, and Korea alone make up
nearly 45% of Japan's foreign resident population, highlighting the deep
regional interconnectedness.
2. Vietnam's Meteoric Rise: Vietnam's jump to the
number two spot is the biggest story. This is almost entirely fueled by Japan's
Technical Intern Training Program, designed to bring in labor for sectors
facing shortages, while providing skills training.
3. The Nikkeijin Communities: The strong presence
of Brazil (5th) and Peru (14th) is a direct result of Japanese emigration to
South America in the early 20th century. Their descendants are now returning to
work, primarily in manufacturing, under specific visa statuses.
4. Two Tiers of Migration: The data shows a clear
split between high-skilled professionals and labor-focused migrants. Countries
like the United States (10th) and India (13th) send highly-paid specialists. In
contrast, nations like Vietnam, Nepal, and Indonesia primarily send
participants in the technical trainee program, who often work in construction,
agriculture, and services.
5. A Society in Transition: These numbers are not
just statistics; they reflect a fundamental shift in Japanese society. Foreign
residents are now essential to the daily functioning of Japan's economy,
filling crucial roles in convenience stores, factories, nursing homes, and IT
departments, helping to offset the country's declining birthrate and aging
population.
This list is more than a
ranking—it's a real-time snapshot of Japan's evolving identity as it navigates
the challenges and opportunities of globalization.
