In February 2017, the resident population in Tokyo’s Minato ward exceeded 250,000 for the first time in 54 years. Over the past 10 years the population has increased by 33%.
The population as at March 1 reached 250,193, of which 7.7% are foreigners. The total is still slightly below the peak of 256,400 seen in 1959. The Japanese economic miracle from post-WWII until the late 1980s saw land prices in central Tokyo skyrocket. The resulting high real estate prices saw residents move out of the city center and into more affordable suburbs. In 1996, the population had dropped to 150,000.