Okinawa: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Okinawa: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Okinawa averaged 3.23 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 29th 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 Okinawa: Okinawa had 7 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 4.90 per 100,000 residents, 130th lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Okinawa: Okinawa had 16 primary schools with 9,372 pupils and 577 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Okinawa: 39.1% of private households in Okinawa were one-person households at the 2020 census (23,663), 66th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Okinawa: The municipal government of Okinawa took in 81.3 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 569,470 yen per resident, 36th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Okinawa?
Okinawa had 142,752 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 92nd lowest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Okinawa and how densely populated is it?
Okinawa covers 49.72 square kilometres (2024), of which 40.71 is habitable land. That is 2,871 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 86th highest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Okinawa growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 141,739 residents in Okinawa in 2024, 0.7% 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 Okinawa?
16.7% of residents of Okinawa were under 15 (23,829 children) and 60.0% 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 Okinawa?
Okinawa had 60,570 households at the 2020 census, of which 60,453 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 Okinawa?
1,993 foreign nationals lived in Okinawa 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 Okinawa each year?
Okinawa recorded 1,306 births and 1,348 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 42. That is 9.1 births and 9.4 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 Okinawa?
In 2024, 5,800 people moved into Okinawa from other municipalities and 6,216 moved out, a net loss of 416 (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 Okinawa each year?
Okinawa registered 693 marriages and 342 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 4.9 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Okinawa?
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
- Imabari 151,672
- Kuki 150,582
- Musashino 150,149
- Komaki 148,831
- Sayama 148,699
- Yonago 147,317
- Tama 146,951
- Iruma 145,651
- Ashikaga 144,746
- Kakamigahara 144,521
- Kusatsu 143,913
- Moriguchi 143,096
- Misato 142,145
- Tsuchiura 142,074
- Fujieda 141,342
- Fukaya 141,268
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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