Kamakura: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kamakura: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Kamakura averaged 5.46 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 4th highest of 262 cities and above 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 Kamakura: Kamakura had 11 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 6.37 per 100,000 residents, 80th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Kamakura: Kamakura had 19 primary schools with 8,919 pupils and 522 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Kamakura: 32.1% of private households in Kamakura were one-person households at the 2020 census (24,252), 71st lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Kamakura: The municipal government of Kamakura took in 74.9 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 433,739 yen per resident, 97th lowest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Kamakura?
Kamakura had 172,710 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 128th lowest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Kamakura and how densely populated is it?
Kamakura covers 39.66 square kilometres (2024), of which 26.87 is habitable land. That is 4,355 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 66th highest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Kamakura growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 174,535 residents in Kamakura in 2024, 1.1% more 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 Kamakura?
11.3% of residents of Kamakura were under 15 (19,587 children) and 57.2% 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 Kamakura?
Kamakura had 75,722 households at the 2020 census, of which 75,607 were private households; that is about 2.28 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 Kamakura?
1,401 foreign nationals lived in Kamakura at the 2020 census, 0.8% 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 Kamakura each year?
Kamakura recorded 810 births and 2,195 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 1,385. That is 4.7 births and 12.7 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 Kamakura?
In 2024, 6,643 people moved into Kamakura from other municipalities and 6,367 moved out, a net gain of 276 (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 Kamakura each year?
Kamakura registered 539 marriages and 235 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 copyWho runs Kamakura?
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
- Numazu 189,386
- Odawara 188,856
- Tottori 188,465
- Joetsu 188,047
- Anjo 187,990
- Toyokawa 184,661
- Izumi 184,495
- Tachikawa 183,581
- Uji 179,630
- Narashino 176,197
- Hitachi 174,508
- Izumo 172,775
- Urayasu 171,362
- Tomakomai 170,113
- Nishio 169,046
- Sakura 168,743
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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