Kurume: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kurume: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Kurume averaged 3.59 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 112th 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 Kurume: Kurume had 27 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 8.90 per 100,000 residents, 27th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Kurume: Kurume had 45 primary schools with 17,068 pupils and 1,150 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Kurume: 36.1% of private households in Kurume were one-person households at the 2020 census (46,347), 108th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Kurume: The municipal government of Kurume took in 146.8 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 484,142 yen per resident, 106th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Kurume?
Kurume had 303,316 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 73rd highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Kurume and how densely populated is it?
Kurume covers 229.96 square kilometres (2024), of which 193.92 is habitable land. That is 1,319 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 130th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Kurume growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 300,199 residents in Kurume in 2024, 1.0% 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 Kurume?
12.5% of residents of Kurume were under 15 (37,877 children) and 53.0% 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 Kurume?
Kurume had 128,716 households at the 2020 census, of which 128,397 were private households; that is about 2.36 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 Kurume?
2,895 foreign nationals lived in Kurume at the 2020 census, 1.0% 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 Kurume each year?
Kurume recorded 2,170 births and 3,767 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 1,597. That is 7.2 births and 12.4 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 Kurume?
In 2024, 10,849 people moved into Kurume from other municipalities and 11,250 moved out, a net loss of 401 (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 Kurume each year?
Kurume registered 1,186 marriages and 471 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 3.9 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 Kurume?
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
- 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
- Akita 307,672
- Yokkaichi 305,424
- Akashi 303,601
- Morioka 289,731
- Ibaraki 287,730
- Fukushima 282,693
- Aomori 275,192
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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