Hakodate: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Hakodate: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Hakodate averaged 3.30 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 37th 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 Hakodate: Hakodate had 26 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 10.36 per 100,000 residents, 14th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Hakodate: Hakodate had 40 primary schools with 8,835 pupils and 726 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Hakodate: 41.9% of private households in Hakodate were one-person households at the 2020 census (50,901), 36th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Hakodate: The municipal government of Hakodate took in 150.2 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 598,059 yen per resident, 22nd highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Hakodate?
Hakodate had 251,084 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 89th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Hakodate and how densely populated is it?
Hakodate covers 677.87 square kilometres (2024), of which 122.81 is habitable land. That is 370 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 48th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Hakodate growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 236,515 residents in Hakodate in 2024, 5.8% 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 Hakodate?
9.4% of residents of Hakodate were under 15 (23,560 children) and 53.7% 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 Hakodate?
Hakodate had 121,793 households at the 2020 census, of which 121,455 were private households; that is about 2.06 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 Hakodate?
989 foreign nationals lived in Hakodate 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 Hakodate each year?
Hakodate recorded 947 births and 4,466 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 3,519. That is 3.8 births and 17.8 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 Hakodate?
In 2024, 7,522 people moved into Hakodate from other municipalities and 8,052 moved out, a net loss of 530 (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 Hakodate each year?
Hakodate registered 734 marriages and 376 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 2.9 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Hakodate?
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
- Aomori 275,192
- Tsu 274,537
- Mito 270,685
- Ichihara 269,524
- Nagaoka 266,936
- Yao 264,642
- Fuchu 262,790
- Fukui 262,328
- Kakogawa 260,878
- Hiratsuka 258,422
- Shimonoseki 255,051
- Tokushima 252,391
- Soka 248,304
- Yamagata 247,590
- Fuji 245,392
- Sasebo 243,223
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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