Akita: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Akita: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Akita averaged 3.36 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 59th lowest of 262 cities and below the national average of 3,933.7 thousand yen per taxpayer. It is income before deductions, so it is not take-home pay.
- Health in Akita: Akita had 14 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 4.55 per 100,000 residents, 117th lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Akita: Akita had 42 primary schools with 12,982 pupils and 836 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Akita: 36.3% of private households in Akita were one-person households at the 2020 census (49,576), 101st highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Akita: The municipal government of Akita took in 152.4 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 495,404 yen per resident, 91st highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Akita?
Akita had 307,672 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 70th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Akita and how densely populated is it?
Akita covers 906.07 square kilometres (2024), of which 291.94 is habitable land. That is 340 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 43rd lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Akita growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 293,729 residents in Akita in 2024, 4.5% fewer than the 2020 census count (all municipalities together: -1.4%). The register and the census are counted differently, so the change is indicative.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many children live in Akita?
10.7% of residents of Akita were under 15 (32,809 children) and 56.1% were aged 15 to 64 at the 2020 census; nationally the shares were 11.9% and 57.8%.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many households are there in Akita?
Akita had 136,952 households at the 2020 census, of which 136,634 were private households; that is about 2.25 residents per household (residents divided by all households).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many foreigners live in Akita?
1,187 foreign nationals lived in Akita at the 2020 census, 0.4% of residents, below the national figure (1.9%).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many babies are born in Akita each year?
Akita recorded 1,451 births and 4,391 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 2,940. That is 4.7 births and 14.3 deaths per 1,000 residents (national: 5.8 and 12.5). Births are by Japanese nationals registered in the city.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyAre more people moving into or out of Akita?
In 2024, 7,287 people moved into Akita from other municipalities and 7,920 moved out, a net loss of 633 (moves within the city and from abroad are not counted).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many marriages are there in Akita each year?
Akita registered 966 marriages and 433 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 3.1 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyNotes from the UN table: Excluding diplomatic personnel outside the country and foreign military and civilian personnel and their dependants stationed in the area. For the 2020 census, urban areas are “Densely Inhabited Districts”, defined as areas within a municipality that is composed of a group of contiguous Basic Unit Blocks, each of which has a population density of 4,000 inhabitants or more per square kilometer and whose total population exceeds 5,000 as of 1 October 2020. The detailed methodological explanation is available at https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/chiri/did/1-1.html Excluding diplomatic personnel outside the country and foreign military and civilian personnel and their dependants stationed in the area. For the 2020 census, urban areas are “Densely Inhabited Districts”, defined as areas within a municipality that is composed of a group of contiguous Basic Unit Blocks, each of which has a population density of 4,000 inhabitants or more per square kilometer and whose total population exceeds 5,000 as of 1 October 2020. The detailed methodological explanation is available at https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/chiri/did/1-1.html Excluding diplomatic personnel outside the country and foreign military and civilian personnel and their dependants stationed in the area. For the 2020 census, urban areas are “Densely Inhabited Districts”, defined as areas within a municipality that is composed of a group of contiguous Basic Unit Blocks, each of which has a population density of 4,000 inhabitants or more per square kilometer and whose total population exceeds 5,000 as of 1 October 2020. The detailed methodological explanation is available at https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/chiri/did/1-1.html Land areas are based on the "Municipalities Area Statistics of Japan, 2015" published by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Who runs Akita?
In Japan, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor and municipal assembly both directly elected for four years. Primary and lower secondary schools, welfare, waste, water, residents' registers, disaster response. Large 'designated cities' (20) take on prefectural tasks and are divided into administrative wards whose heads are officials, not elected.
How local power works in Japan
Cities of a similar size in Japan
- Kawagoe 354,571
- Takatsuki 352,698
- Otsu 345,070
- Tokorozawa 342,464
- Koshigaya 341,621
- Iwaki 332,931
- Maebashi 332,149
- Asahikawa 329,306
- Koriyama 327,692
- Kochi 326,545
- Naha 317,625
- Kasugai 308,681
- Yokkaichi 305,424
- Akashi 303,601
- Kurume 303,316
- Morioka 289,731
Up a level: all cities in Japan · Japan · government and power
Sources
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (social and demographic statistics, city, ward, town and village data), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2cb3d8c51aa1…)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Prefectures 2026 (national figures, "All Japan" row), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b69774a5f40c…)
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