Zama: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Zama: Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Zama averaged 3.64 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 129th 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 Zama: Zama had 4 general hospitals (hospitals other than psychiatric ones) in 2023, or 3.02 per 100,000 residents, 42nd lowest of 262 cities, below the national figure (5.60).
- Education in Zama: Zama had 11 primary schools with 5,933 pupils and 365 full-time teachers in May 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Zama: 37.7% of private households in Zama were one-person households at the 2020 census (22,688), 85th highest of 262 cities, below the national figure (38.0%).
- Government budget and revenue in Zama: The municipal government of Zama took in 51.1 billion yen in fiscal 2022 (final accounts), 386,299 yen per resident, 28th lowest of 262 cities.
What is the population of Zama?
Zama had 132,325 residents at the 1 October 2020 census (city proper). That is 73rd lowest of 262 cities. The count includes foreign residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is Zama and how densely populated is it?
Zama covers 17.57 square kilometres (2024), of which 16.67 is habitable land. That is 7,531 people per square kilometre of total area at the 2020 census, 36th highest of 262 for density.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyIs the population of Zama growing or shrinking?
The basic resident register recorded 131,219 residents in Zama in 2024, 0.8% 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 Zama?
11.3% of residents of Zama were under 15 (14,957 children) and 60.8% 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 Zama?
Zama had 60,257 households at the 2020 census, of which 60,153 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 Zama?
2,935 foreign nationals lived in Zama at the 2020 census, 2.2% 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 Zama each year?
Zama recorded 701 births and 1,422 deaths in 2023, a natural decrease of 721. That is 5.3 births and 10.7 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 Zama?
In 2024, 5,929 people moved into Zama from other municipalities and 5,442 moved out, a net gain of 487 (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 Zama each year?
Zama registered 448 marriages and 200 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 Zama?
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
- Ishinomaki 140,151
- Koga 139,344
- Kuwana 138,613
- Shunan 137,540
- Minoh 136,868
- Yaizu 136,845
- Ebina 136,516
- Kisarazu 136,166
- Inazawa 134,751
- Isahaya 133,852
- Ome 133,535
- Narita 132,906
- Onomichi 131,170
- Abiko 130,510
- Kokubunji 129,242
- Iwakuni 129,125
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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