According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the greater Tokyo area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa) saw a net inflow of 119,357 residents in 2015. This is the 20th year in a row to see a net inflow, and is the highest level seen since 2009.

Only 8 of Japan’s 47 prefectures reported a net inflow, while areas such as Hokkaido (-8,862), Hyogo (-7,409), Niigata (-6,735), Aomori (-6,560), and Shizuoka (-6,206) saw more people moving out to other areas. Approximately 76% of Japan’s cities, towns and villages recorded net outflows in 2015, as more and more of the population move to larger cities.

Tokyo’s 23 wards saw a net inflow of 68,917 residents, up 7.7% from 2014.

Kita-Kyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture saw the largest outflow of all cities and town across Japan with a net outflow of 3,088 residents in 2015. This follows a net outflow of 2,483 residents recorded in 2014. Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture was in second worst spot, with a net outflow of 1,785 residents in 2015, almost double the net outflow recorded in 2014.

In the disaster-hit areas of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures, the net outflow in 2015 was 6,593 residents, showing a worsening trend from 2014 when the net outflor was 3,619 residents.

Note: The data does not include foreign residents.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau, January 29, 2016.

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