News Increasing Nepali population might soon adjust Japan’s top 5 foreign nationalities

[thomas]

The ranking of the top five foreign nationalities in Japan has remained unchanged for over a decade, but that may shift soon as Nepal is poised to overtake Brazil. As of June 2024, the Nepali population had surged to 206,898.

Data from the Immigration Services Agency shows that Nepal's population in Japan has been growing by 30,000 to 50,000 people annually since 2022, while the Brazilian population has increased by a more modest 2,000 to 5,000 per year, reaching 212,325 in June 2024. At this pace, Nepal is likely to surpass Brazil — currently in fifth place — by late 2024 or early 2025.

As of June 2024, the top ten foreign nationalities residing in Japan are as follows:

1. China: 844,187 residents
2. Vietnam: 600,348 residents
3. South Korea: 411,043 residents
4. Philippines: 325,000 residents
5. Brazil: 212,325 residents
6. Nepal: 206,898 residents
7. United States: 76,000 residents
8. Indonesia: 66,000 residents
9. Thailand: 61,000 residents
10. India: 40,752 residents

According to Japan Student Services Organization data, the number of Nepali students has grown more than elevenfold in 10 years, from 3,188 in 2013 to 37,878 in 2023. This surpasses the 36,339 students from Vietnam and 14,946 students from South Korea, making Nepal the second-largest foreign student population in Japan after China with 115,493 pupils. Nepali Ambassador to Japan Durga Bahadur Subedi told the Mainichi Shimbun that the increase in Nepali nationals living in Japan can be attributed to better employment and educational opportunities as well as cultural similarities. He stated, "The relationship between the two countries, both at the government and private levels, is excellent."

Rising Nepali population may shift top 5 foreign nationalities in Japan - The Mainichi

SAPPORO -- The top five countries of foreign nationals living in Japan have remained unchanged for over the past decade, but will likely change soon a

mainichi.jp