# R4 | deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro | run 1

## 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 total population is estimated at **122.93 million** (provisional figure), and it is **decreasing** — down 44,000 people ( 0.35 %) compared to the same month the previous year. The decline is driven by a shrinking Japanese‑national population, which has fallen to the lowest level in decades.

**Key figures and sources:**

- **Total population (incl. foreign residents):** 122,930,000 as of July 1 2026 (provisional estimate), a year‑on‑year decline of 44,000 [stat.go.jp](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/new.htm) [stat.go.jp PDF](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/pdf/202607.pdf).
- **Japanese‑national population:** 119,078,000 as of February 1 2026 (final estimate), down 888,000 (0.74 %) from a year earlier [stat.go.jp PDF](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/pdf/202607.pdf).  
  A separate survey placed Japanese residents at 119.74 million as of January 1 2026, the first time in decades that figure fell below 120 million [thejapantimes.com](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/30/japan/society/japan-population-fall/).
- **Long‑term trend:** The 2025 census recorded a total population of 123.05 million, a drop of 3.09 million (2.5 %) from the 2020 census — the steepest decline since the census began in 1920 [thejapantimes.com](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/29/japan/japan-population-largest-decline/).

Japan’s total population has now been shrinking for three consecutive census cycles, with the monthly estimates showing a consistent downward trend through 2026.

Would you like a breakdown of the population by age groups or a comparison with other countries?
