Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan
Japan: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 9.17 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan, 2001–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan is 9.17 million, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan peaked at 11.59 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 9.17 million, in 2025.
That places Japan 31st out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 11.59 million | — |
| 2002 | 11.36 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 11.20 million | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 11.04 million | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 10.91 million | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 10.83 million | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 10.76 million | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 10.76 million | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 10.71 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 10.66 million | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 10.55 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 10.47 million | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 10.34 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 10.21 million | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 10.08 million | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 9.98 million | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 9.89 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 9.77 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 9.67 million | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 9.56 million | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 9.48 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 9.49 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 9.42 million | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 9.32 million | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 9.17 million | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.02 million | 10.71 million | 11.59 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.16 million | 9.67 million | 10.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.41 million | 9.17 million | 9.56 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 28 South Africa 9.51 million compare
- 29 Algeria 9.48 million compare
- 30 Yemen 9.20 million compare
- 32 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8.99 million compare
- 33 Ghana 8.96 million compare
- 34 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 8.04 million compare
More education data for Japan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.7827 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 440,864 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.5011 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.22 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.8205 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.39 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.7464 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -2.95 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Japan was 9.17 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.59 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.17 million in 2025.
- How does Japan rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Japan ranks 31st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release