Saga: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Saga: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Saga averaged 3.50 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 89th 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 Saga: Saga had 23 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 9.86 per 100,000 residents, 20th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Saga: Saga had 36 primary schools with 12,632 pupils and 972 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Saga: 35.9% of private households in Saga were one-person households at the 2020 census (34,618), 116th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Saga: The municipal government of Saga took in 113.9 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 488,138 yen per resident, 98th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Saga?
Saga had 233,301 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 99th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Saga and how densely populated is it?
Saga covers 431.81 square kilometres (2024), of which 255.22 is habitable land. That is 540 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 66th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Saga growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 226,481 residents in Saga in 2024, 2.9% 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 Saga?
12.9% of residents of Saga were under 15 (30,064 children) and 55.4% 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 Saga?
Saga had 96,874 households at the 2020 census, of which 96,522 were private households; that is about 2.41 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 Saga?
1,425 foreign nationals lived in Saga 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 copyHow many babies are born in Saga each year?
Saga recorded 1,480 births and 3,016 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 1,536. That is 6.3 births and 12.9 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 Saga?
In 2024, 7,163 people moved into Saga from other municipalities and 7,607 moved out, a net loss of 444 (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 Saga each year?
Saga registered 765 marriages and 335 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 3.3 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Saga?
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
- Shimonoseki 255,051
- Tokushima 252,391
- Hakodate 251,084
- Soka 248,304
- Yamagata 247,590
- Fuji 245,392
- Sasebo 243,223
- Chofu 242,614
- Chigasaki 242,389
- Tsukuba 241,656
- Matsumoto 241,145
- Yamato 239,169
- Kasukabe 229,792
- Neyagawa 229,733
- Ageo 226,940
- Takarazuka 226,432
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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