Immigration to Japan rises as inflows to other OECD countries decline

The Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Tokyo's Minato Ward | JOHAN BROOKS

Nov 13, 2026

Japan bucked a broader decline in long-term immigration experienced across other developed economies in 2025, a report released Thursday found.

The OECD International Migration Outlook 2026 found that Japan welcomed 192,000 new long-term or permanent immigrants last year, including people who changed their residence status, with labor migrants accounting for 63% of the total.

Japan recorded a 9.5% year-on-year increase in long-term immigration in 2025 while other OECD member countries saw a 1.6% decline, marking the second consecutive annual drop.

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