Tsukuba: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Tsukuba: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Tsukuba averaged 4.54 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 19th highest of 262 cities and above 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 Tsukuba: Tsukuba had 11 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 4.55 per 100,000 residents, 118th lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Tsukuba: Tsukuba had 32 primary schools with 12,251 pupils and 766 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Tsukuba: 45.3% of private households in Tsukuba were one-person households at the 2020 census (50,026), 13th highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Tsukuba: The municipal government of Tsukuba took in 118.5 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 490,532 yen per resident, 95th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Tsukuba?
Tsukuba had 241,656 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 96th highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Tsukuba and how densely populated is it?
Tsukuba covers 283.72 square kilometres (2024), of which 231.70 is habitable land. That is 852 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 89th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Tsukuba growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 259,000 residents in Tsukuba in 2024, 7.2% 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 Tsukuba?
14.3% of residents of Tsukuba were under 15 (34,645 children) and 59.4% 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 Tsukuba?
Tsukuba had 110,490 households at the 2020 census, of which 110,344 were private households; that is about 2.19 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 Tsukuba?
6,556 foreign nationals lived in Tsukuba at the 2020 census, 2.7% 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 Tsukuba each year?
Tsukuba recorded 2,094 births and 2,124 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 30. That is 8.7 births and 8.8 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 Tsukuba?
In 2024, 14,906 people moved into Tsukuba from other municipalities and 12,327 moved out, a net gain of 2,579 (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 Tsukuba each year?
Tsukuba registered 1,197 marriages and 401 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 5.0 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Tsukuba?
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
- Fukui 262,328
- Kakogawa 260,878
- Hiratsuka 258,422
- 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
- Matsumoto 241,145
- Yamato 239,169
- Saga 233,301
- Kasukabe 229,792
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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