Japan's Foreign Residents Hit a Record 4.28 Million as Visitor Arrivals Edge Down

A record count of residents

Japan had 4,281,026 foreign residents at the end of June 2026, a record high, according to figures the Immigration Services Agency released on 16 October. That was up 3.8%, or about 155,600 people, from the end of 2025. Foreign residents now make up roughly 3.5% of the national population.

Arrivals slip slightly

The count of foreign residents rose even as the number of foreigners entering Japan in the first half of 2026 edged down 0.1% from a year earlier, to about 19.7 million. Short-term visitors and long-term residents are tracked separately, so the two trends do not measure the same thing.

Work visas and policy

The record was driven in part by workers in the specified skilled worker programme, which reached 444,256 at the end of June, according to the agency. Entries under the business manager status fell after the government tightened the rules for it. Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita said the government would pursue strict yet smooth immigration management.

Debate over the trend

Japanese businesses have asked the government for a comprehensive policy to support foreign residents, while critics point to pressure on public services and local communities. For more on Japan’s economy and society, see our news section and business coverage.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, foreign residents as of end of June 2026 (released 16 October 2026).