Soka: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Soka: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Soka averaged 3.81 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 93rd highest 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 Soka: Soka had 6 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 2.42 per 100,000 residents, 12th lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Soka: Soka had 21 primary schools with 11,269 pupils and 633 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Soka: 38.1% of private households in Soka were one-person households at the 2020 census (42,559), 79th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Soka: The municipal government of Soka took in 102.5 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 412,720 yen per resident, 68th lowest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Soka?
Soka had 248,304 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 90th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Soka and how densely populated is it?
Soka covers 27.46 square kilometres (2024), of which 27.46 is habitable land. That is 9,042 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 19th highest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Soka growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 251,992 residents in Soka in 2024, 1.5% more 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 Soka?
11.7% of residents of Soka were under 15 (29,088 children) and 63.4% 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 Soka?
Soka had 111,923 households at the 2020 census, of which 111,692 were private households; that is about 2.22 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 Soka?
7,147 foreign nationals lived in Soka at the 2020 census, 2.9% of residents, above the national figure (1.9%).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many babies are born in Soka each year?
Soka recorded 1,421 births and 2,636 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 1,215. That is 5.7 births and 10.6 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 Soka?
In 2024, 12,118 people moved into Soka from other municipalities and 10,875 moved out, a net gain of 1,243 (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 Soka each year?
Soka registered 1,034 marriages and 420 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 4.2 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Soka?
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
- 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
- Shimonoseki 255,051
- Tokushima 252,391
- Hakodate 251,084
- Yamagata 247,590
- Fuji 245,392
- Sasebo 243,223
- Chofu 242,614
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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