Himeji: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Himeji: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Himeji averaged 3.80 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 98th highest 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 Himeji: Himeji had 31 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 5.84 per 100,000 residents, 95th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Himeji: Himeji had 66 primary schools with 25,857 pupils and 1,688 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Himeji: 33.7% of private households in Himeji were one-person households at the 2020 census (75,447), 105th lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Himeji: The municipal government of Himeji took in 239.7 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 451,918 yen per resident, 114th lowest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Himeji?
Himeji had 530,495 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 26th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Himeji and how densely populated is it?
Himeji covers 534.56 square kilometres (2024), of which 229.13 is habitable land. That is 992 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 100th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Himeji growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 523,181 residents in Himeji in 2024, 1.4% 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 Himeji?
13.1% of residents of Himeji were under 15 (69,356 children) and 58.5% 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 Himeji?
Himeji had 224,106 households at the 2020 census, of which 223,793 were private households; that is about 2.37 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 Himeji?
10,045 foreign nationals lived in Himeji at the 2020 census, 1.9% of residents, about the same as the national figure (1.9%).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many babies are born in Himeji each year?
Himeji recorded 3,492 births and 6,212 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 2,720. That is 6.6 births and 11.7 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 Himeji?
In 2024, 13,603 people moved into Himeji from other municipalities and 14,244 moved out, a net loss of 641 (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 Himeji each year?
Himeji registered 2,112 marriages and 846 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 4.0 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 Himeji?
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
- Kitakyushu 939,029
- Sakai 826,161
- Hamamatsu 790,718
- Niigata 789,275
- Kumamoto 738,865
- Sagamihara 725,493
- Okayama 724,691
- Shizuoka 693,389
- Funabashi 642,907
- Kawaguchi 594,274
- Kagoshima 593,128
- Hachioji 579,355
- Utsunomiya 518,757
- Matsuyama 511,192
- Matsudo 498,232
- Ichikawa 496,676
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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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