Yamagata: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Yamagata: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Yamagata averaged 3.50 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 87th 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 Yamagata: Yamagata had 13 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 5.25 per 100,000 residents, 117th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Yamagata: Yamagata had 37 primary schools with 11,527 pupils and 795 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Yamagata: 34.8% of private households in Yamagata were one-person households at the 2020 census (35,538), 122nd lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Yamagata: The municipal government of Yamagata took in 120.0 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 484,838 yen per resident, 105th highest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Yamagata?
Yamagata had 247,590 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 91st highest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Yamagata and how densely populated is it?
Yamagata covers 381.30 square kilometres (2024), of which 172.46 is habitable land. That is 649 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 77th lowest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Yamagata growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 236,164 residents in Yamagata 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 Yamagata?
11.8% of residents of Yamagata were under 15 (29,120 children) and 56.9% 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 Yamagata?
Yamagata had 102,318 households at the 2020 census, of which 102,101 were private households; that is about 2.42 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 Yamagata?
1,156 foreign nationals lived in Yamagata at the 2020 census, 0.5% 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 Yamagata each year?
Yamagata recorded 1,397 births and 3,242 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 1,845. That is 5.6 births and 13.1 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 Yamagata?
In 2024, 6,707 people moved into Yamagata from other municipalities and 7,164 moved out, a net loss of 457 (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 Yamagata each year?
Yamagata registered 844 marriages and 291 divorces by Japanese nationals in 2023, or 3.4 marriages per 1,000 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWho runs Yamagata?
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
- 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
- Soka 248,304
- Fuji 245,392
- Sasebo 243,223
- Chofu 242,614
- Chigasaki 242,389
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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