Russia vs Japan: population comparison
Current population of Russia
143,340,797
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 687
- Deaths today
- 1,014
- Change today (UTC)
- −89
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
Russia has a population of 143,513,328 and Japan has 123,366,734 (2025 estimates). Russia is currently larger by 20,146,594 people — about 1.2 times Japan's population. They rank 9 and 12 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: Russia grows at −0.11% per year versus −0.49% for Japan. At current rates the balance between them keeps shifting.
Beyond size, the structures differ: Russia is the younger society (median age 40.3 vs 49.8); Japan is far more crowded at 342 people per km² against 9.
Russia vs Japan population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Russia | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 143,513,328 | 123,366,734 |
| Annual growth | −0.11% | −0.49% |
| Yearly change | −156,320 | −608,637 |
| Density (P/km²) | 9 | 342 |
| Land area (km²) | 16,376,870 | 364,569 |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 49.8 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 1.42 | 1.15 |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | 84.0 yrs |
| Urban population | 75% | 92% |
| World share | 1.75% | 1.50% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 136,132,775 | 105,123,167 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Russia · Japan
Russia vs Japan FAQ
Is Russia bigger than Japan by population?
Russia currently has the larger population: 143,513,328 versus 123,366,734 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 20.15 million people.
Which grows faster, Russia or Japan?
Russia currently grows faster: −0.11% per year versus −0.49%.
How do Russia and Japan compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Russia at 136,132,775 and Japan at 105,123,167 in 2050.