Internal Migration in Japan

With a declining population of 127 million, projected to be below 100 million by mid-century, Japan is a mountainous island country in East Asia. Data on internal migration have been collected since 1954 through resident registers and by means of censuses since 1960, with questions on both lifetime and recent (five-year) migration and mover characteristics. 2015 Census data show that the Japanese are highly mobile with an ACMI approaching 20 per cent, down from 28% in 2000. Unlike many other Asian nations, Japan displays a late migration profile, with a peak at age 31 reflecting late transitions to adulthood. With more than 90% of its population residing in cities, and more than half in the three metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, Japan is at a late stage in the urban transition. It is dominated by urban-to-urban migration, especially towards Tokyo. Very low migration effectiveness coupled with high intensities underpin moderate population redistribution. However, population ageing coupled with net population losses in rural areas have triggered policy concerns about the economic and demographic sustainability of rural areas in Japan.