Kure: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kure: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Kure averaged 3.48 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 85th 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 Kure: Kure had 21 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 9.79 per 100,000 residents, 21st highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Kure: Kure had 36 primary schools with 8,472 pupils and 668 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Kure: 35.3% of private households in Kure were one-person households at the 2020 census (33,246), 127th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Kure: The municipal government of Kure took in 112.3 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 523,323 yen per resident, 66th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Kure?
Kure had 214,592 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 107th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Kure and how densely populated is it?
Kure covers 352.04 square kilometres (2024), of which 146.56 is habitable land. That is 610 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 73rd lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Kure growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 201,242 residents in Kure in 2024, 6.2% 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 Kure?
10.7% of residents of Kure were under 15 (23,037 children) and 53.2% 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 Kure?
Kure had 94,483 households at the 2020 census, of which 94,223 were private households; that is about 2.27 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 Kure?
3,022 foreign nationals lived in Kure at the 2020 census, 1.4% 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 Kure each year?
Kure recorded 867 births and 3,470 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 2,603. That is 4.0 births and 16.2 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 Kure?
In 2024, 5,376 people moved into Kure from other municipalities and 7,098 moved out, a net loss of 1,722 (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 Kure each year?
Kure registered 657 marriages and 269 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 Kure?
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
- Chigasaki 242,389
- Tsukuba 241,656
- Matsumoto 241,145
- Yamato 239,169
- Saga 233,301
- Kasukabe 229,792
- Neyagawa 229,733
- Ageo 226,940
- Takarazuka 226,432
- Atsugi 223,705
- Hachinohe 223,415
- Ota 223,014
- Isesaki 211,850
- Nishitokyo 207,388
- Matsue 203,616
- Nagareyama 199,849
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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