The net population inflow into the Tokyo metropolitan area slowed for the first time in four years in 2025, internal affairs ministry data shows.
The number of people who moved into Tokyo and neighboring Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, which together make up Japan＊s largest metropolitan area, minus the number of those who moved out stood at 123,534, down by 12,309 from 2024, according to the data based on the country＊s basic resident registry, released Tuesday.
As concentration of the population in the Tokyo area is ongoing, however, addressing the situation remains a challenge for the country.
The metropolitan area made up of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Nara prefectures logged a net population inflow of 8,742 last year, up by 6,063 year on year.
The area comprising the prefectures of Aichi, Gifu and Mie saw people departing exceed those moving in by 12,695. But the net outflow shrank by 6,161 from 2024.
Of the country＊s 47 prefectures, Tokyo posted the largest net population inflow, at 65,219, a decrease of 14,066. The capital＊s densely populated 23 wards saw a net inflow of 39,197, down by 19,607.
Six other prefectures 〞 Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Shiga and Fukuoka 〞 also logged net inflows, while the 40 other prefectures suffered net outflows, with Yamanashi posting a net outflow of 862, compared with a net inflow of 82 in 2024.
The number of people who moved into Japan from overseas in 2025 totaled 782,165, while 409,592 moved out. With these figures also taken into account, Japan＊s net social population increase came to 337,234 in the year.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.