Immigration Foreign residents reach 9.5% of Japan’s 20s cohort

[thomas]

Foreign residents accounted for 9.5% of people in their twenties in Japan in 2025, more than twice the 4.1% recorded a decade earlier. An analysis of government statistics by Kyodo News points to the growing importance of this group as Japan's young population continues to contract, particularly in supporting the social welfare system.

The share is expected to increase further. The government has submitted a draft proposal to an expert panel that would allow the acceptance of up to around 426,000 foreign workers over two years from fiscal 2027, as part of efforts to address labour shortages.

According to the Basic Resident Register data, foreign residents in their 20s increased by 680,000 to 1.22 million over a 10-year period through 2025, while Japanese in their 20s decreased by 1.03 million to 11.64 million. By prefecture, Gunma had the highest proportion of foreigners in their 20s with 14.1%, followed by Gifu and Ibaraki. Nine others, including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, exceeded 10%. Foreigners are becoming increasingly important not only in the labor market but also as contributors to Japan's social security system. Across all age groups, foreign residents accounted for 3.0% of the Japanese population in 2025. As of the end of June 2025, the largest foreign resident population was from China, at about 900,000, followed by Vietnam, with about 660,000, according to the data.

Foreign residents make up 9.5% of people in 20s in Japan - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Foreign residents made up 9.5 percent of the people in their 20s in Japan in 2025, more than double the 4.1 percent in 2015, a Kyodo

mainichi.jp

Foreign residents make up 9.5% of people in 20s in Japan

Foreign residents made up 9.5 percent of the people in their 20s in Japan in 2025, more than double the 4.1 percent in 2015, a Kyodo News analysis of government data showed Saturday, highlighting their potential role in sustaining the country's social welfare system amid a shrinking population...

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