Japan vs Vietnam: population comparison
Current population of Japan
122,696,542
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 400
- Deaths today
- 935
- Change today (UTC)
- −346
Current population of Vietnam
102,274,848
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 777
- Deaths today
- 384
- Change today (UTC)
- +349
Japan has a population of 123,366,734 and Vietnam has 101,598,527 (2025 estimates). Japan is currently larger by 21,768,207 people — about 1.2 times Vietnam's population. They rank 12 and 16 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: Vietnam grows at +0.60% per year versus −0.49% for Japan. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.
UN medium-variant projections point to a changing of the guard: Vietnam is projected to overtake Japan around 2045.
Beyond size, the structures differ: Vietnam is the younger society (median age 33.4 vs 49.8); Japan is far more crowded at 342 people per km² against 320.
Japan vs Vietnam population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Japan | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 123,366,734 | 101,598,527 |
| Annual growth | −0.49% | +0.60% |
| Yearly change | −608,637 | +610,841 |
| Density (P/km²) | 342 | 320 |
| Land area (km²) | 364,569 | 313,429 |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 33.4 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 1.15 | 1.90 |
| Life expectancy | 84.0 yrs | 74.7 yrs |
| Urban population | 92% | 39% |
| World share | 1.50% | 1.24% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 105,123,167 | 110,008,908 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Japan · Vietnam
Japan vs Vietnam FAQ
Is Japan bigger than Vietnam by population?
Japan currently has the larger population: 123,366,734 versus 101,598,527 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 21.77 million people.
Will Vietnam overtake Japan in population?
United Nations medium-variant projections suggest Vietnam could overtake Japan around 2045.
Which grows faster, Japan or Vietnam?
Vietnam currently grows faster: +0.60% per year versus −0.49%.
How do Japan and Vietnam compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Japan at 105,123,167 and Vietnam at 110,008,908 in 2050.