Mexico vs Japan: population comparison
Current population of Mexico
133,150,654
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 1,163
- Deaths today
- 467
- Change today (UTC)
- +621
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
Mexico has a population of 131,946,900 and Japan has 123,366,734 (2025 estimates). Mexico is currently larger by 8,580,166 people — about 1.1 times Japan's population. They rank 11 and 12 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: Mexico grows at +0.83% per year versus −0.49% for Japan. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.
The lead has changed hands: Mexico overtook Japan in 2020, according to the historical series.
Beyond size, the structures differ: Mexico is the younger society (median age 29.6 vs 49.8); Japan is far more crowded at 342 people per km² against 67.
Mexico vs Japan population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Mexico | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 131,946,900 | 123,366,734 |
| Annual growth | +0.83% | −0.49% |
| Yearly change | +1,085,893 | −608,637 |
| Density (P/km²) | 67 | 342 |
| Land area (km²) | 1,943,950 | 364,569 |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 49.8 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 1.89 | 1.15 |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | 84.0 yrs |
| Urban population | 80% | 92% |
| World share | 1.61% | 1.50% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 148,946,274 | 105,123,167 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Mexico · Japan
Mexico vs Japan FAQ
Is Mexico bigger than Japan by population?
Mexico currently has the larger population: 131,946,900 versus 123,366,734 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 8.58 million people.
When did Mexico overtake Japan in population?
Mexico passed Japan in 2020, based on the countries' official population series.
Which grows faster, Mexico or Japan?
Mexico currently grows faster: +0.83% per year versus −0.49%.
How do Mexico and Japan compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Mexico at 148,946,274 and Japan at 105,123,167 in 2050.