Japan’s foreign resident population has reached a new record, driven by a growing number of overseas residents choosing to settle in the country, particularly skilled professionals filling critical roles amid Japan’s ongoing labor shortages.
TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – As travel to Japan continues to surge, relocating to the country has also become an increasingly popular aspiration among overseas residents. The number of foreign nationals living in Japan has continued to rise, reaching record highs in 2025, with a particularly notable increase in those working in professional and technical fields.
As of June 2025, the foreign resident population in Japan exceeded 3.95 million, marking an all-time high. Surveys show that compared with a decade ago, most regions across Japan have experienced growth in their foreign populations. More than half of all municipalities have seen their foreign resident numbers more than double. Even rural towns and villages in Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture—areas that previously had very few foreign residents—have recorded sharp increases, indicating that foreign settlement is expanding beyond major urban centers.
According to data released by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency, the number of mid- to long-term foreign residents stood at 3,494,954 at the end of 2024, while special permanent residents totaled 274,023. This brought the overall foreign resident population to 3,768,977, an increase of 357,985 people, or 10.5 percent, compared with the previous year. Foreign residents now account for 3.04 percent of Japan’s total population, up 0.3 percentage points year on year.
By nationality, Chinese residents remain the largest group, numbering 873,286, followed by Vietnamese, South Korean, Filipino, and Nepalese residents. Among these, Vietnam and Nepal recorded the fastest growth, with Nepal surpassing Brazil to become the fifth-largest foreign resident group in Japan. In contrast, the number of South Korean residents showed a slight decline.
In terms of residency status, permanent residents constitute the largest category of foreign residents. As of the end of 2024, there were 918,116 permanent residents, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all foreign residents. This figure has steadily increased since 2019, reflecting a growing trend toward long-term settlement in Japan.
Most notably, the number of foreign nationals engaged in professional and technical occupations has risen sharply. By the end of 2024, 885,606 foreign residents held mid- to long-term visas for professional or technical work, an increase of more than 150,000 people, or 28 percent, from the previous year. The largest growth was seen in the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” and “Specified Skilled Worker” categories, which now form the backbone of Japan’s foreign workforce.
Experts note that amid Japan’s accelerating population decline and labor shortages, foreign professional talent has become increasingly vital. With companies expanding recruitment overseas and immigration frameworks gradually evolving, the number of foreign residents relocating to Japan for skilled employment is expected to continue rising.
