# R4 | mistralai/mistral-small-2603 | run 2

## Prompt

As of the most recent available estimate, what is the population of Japan, and is it increasing or decreasing? Give the figure and year, and cite sources.

## Response

As of July 1, 2026, Japan’s population is estimated at 122.93 million, marking a decline of 440,000 people—or 0.35%—compared to the previous year [stat.go.jp](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/new.htm) [stat.go.jp](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/pdf/202607.pdf).

Japan’s total population peaked in the 2010s and has since entered a persistent, accelerating decline [japantimes.co.jp](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/29/japan/japan-population-largest-decline/).

Would you like a breakdown of the population by age group?
