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Oita: population and official figures

Population (2020 census)
475,614
2020

In depth

What is the population of Oita?

Oita had 475,614 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 33rd highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copy

How big is Oita and how densely populated is it?

Oita covers 502.39 square kilometres (2024), of which 245.87 is habitable land. That is 947 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 95th lowest of 262 for density.

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copy

Is the population of Oita growing or shrinking?

The basic resident register recorded 472,898 residents in Oita in 2024, 0.6% 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 copy

What share of the population of Oita is over 65?

27.2% of the residents of Oita were aged 65 or over at the 2020 census (129,289 people), 112th youngest of 262 cities, below the national figure (28.0%).

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copy

How many children live in Oita?

13.2% of residents of Oita were under 15 (62,944 children) and 57.0% 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 copy

How many households are there in Oita?

Oita had 209,539 households at the 2020 census, of which 209,066 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 copy

How many foreigners live in Oita?

2,661 foreign nationals lived in Oita at the 2020 census, 0.6% of residents, below the national figure (1.9%).

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copy

How many babies are born in Oita each year?

Oita recorded 3,249 births and 5,419 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 2,170. That is 6.8 births and 11.4 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 copy

Are more people moving into or out of Oita?

In 2024, 13,013 people moved into Oita from other municipalities and 13,290 moved out, a net loss of 277 (moves within the city and from abroad are not counted).

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copy

How many marriages are there in Oita each year?

Oita registered 1,921 marriages and 815 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 copy

Notes 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 Oita?

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

Up a level: all cities in Japan · Japan · government and power

Sources

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