Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan
Japan: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 121.46 million people in 2020. ▬ Flat
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan, 2008–2020
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan stood at 121.46 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan peaked at 124.36 million people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 120.81 million people, in 2019.
That places Japan 6th out of 120 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 122.04 million people | — |
| 2009 | 122.92 million people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 124.36 million people | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 122.97 million people | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 123.67 million people | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 121.97 million people | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 124.35 million people | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 123.96 million people | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 122.88 million people | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 123.80 million people | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 121.48 million people | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 120.81 million people | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 121.46 million people | +0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 121.46 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.01 million people, 13.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Japan's 121.46 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.36 million people, 2.4× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 122.48 million people | 122.04 million people | 122.92 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 123.03 million people | 120.81 million people | 124.36 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 121.46 million people | 121.46 million people | 121.46 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More poverty & inequality data for Japan
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 5 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,245 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.86 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Japan was 121.46 million people in 2020, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 124.36 million people in 2010.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 120.81 million people in 2019.
- How does Japan rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Japan ranks 6th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.