Japan revises its census after five years and has just discovered something alarming: three million people have vanished

Japan’s 2025 census update counts 123,049,524 residents, down 3,096,575 from 2020.

This is Japan’s third straight population decline and the sharpest drop since records began in 1920.

Only Tokyo and Okinawa grew; 45 of 47 prefectures lost population.

The trend, driven by low births and aging, is worsening concerns over labor shortages, pensions, healthcare, and regional survival.