Shimonoseki: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Shimonoseki: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Shimonoseki averaged 3.28 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 35th 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 Shimonoseki: Shimonoseki had 20 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 7.84 per 100,000 residents, 43rd highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Shimonoseki: Shimonoseki had 42 primary schools with 10,898 pupils and 827 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Shimonoseki: 37.5% of private households in Shimonoseki were one-person households at the 2020 census (43,266), 87th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Shimonoseki: The municipal government of Shimonoseki took in 150.2 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 589,067 yen per resident, 26th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Shimonoseki?
Shimonoseki had 255,051 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 87th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Shimonoseki and how densely populated is it?
Shimonoseki covers 716.28 square kilometres (2024), of which 242.92 is habitable land. That is 356 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 45th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Shimonoseki growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 243,422 residents in Shimonoseki in 2024, 4.6% 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 copyHow many children live in Shimonoseki?
11.0% of residents of Shimonoseki were under 15 (28,155 children) and 52.3% 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 Shimonoseki?
Shimonoseki had 115,817 households at the 2020 census, of which 115,525 were private households; that is about 2.20 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 Shimonoseki?
3,872 foreign nationals lived in Shimonoseki at the 2020 census, 1.5% 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 Shimonoseki each year?
Shimonoseki recorded 1,205 births and 4,164 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 2,959. That is 4.7 births and 16.3 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 Shimonoseki?
In 2024, 5,491 people moved into Shimonoseki from other municipalities and 6,756 moved out, a net loss of 1,265 (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 Shimonoseki each year?
Shimonoseki registered 704 marriages and 325 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 2.8 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Shimonoseki?
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
- Ibaraki 287,730
- Fukushima 282,693
- Aomori 275,192
- Tsu 274,537
- Mito 270,685
- Ichihara 269,524
- Nagaoka 266,936
- Yao 264,642
- Fuchu 262,790
- Fukui 262,328
- Kakogawa 260,878
- Hiratsuka 258,422
- Tokushima 252,391
- Hakodate 251,084
- Soka 248,304
- Yamagata 247,590
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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