Foreign Residents Hit Record 4,281,026, Up 3.8% in Six Months; Overstayers Down About 5% to 65,229
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency released immigration statistics for the first half of 2026 on October 16, 2026. According to Kyodo News and other outlets, the number of foreign residents stood at 4,281,026 as of the end of June 2026, an increase of roughly 155,000 (3.8%) from the end of 2025 and a record high. That figure equals 3.4% of Japan's total population.
By residency status, permanent residents were the largest group at 961,342, while specified skilled workers numbered 444,256. By nationality and region, China was the largest at 941,031, followed by Vietnam and South Korea. Meanwhile, new entrants on the "business manager" residency status totaled 635 in the first half of 2026, a sharp drop from the same period a year earlier, apparently reflecting the agency's tightening of screening for that status.
The number of people overstaying their permitted period of residence stood at 65,229 as of July 1, 2026, down 3,259 (about 4.8%) from 68,488 as of January 1 the same year. By nationality and region, Thailand was highest at 10,260, overtaking Vietnam at 10,135. By residency status, short-term stay accounted for roughly 60% of the total. The government has been pursuing faster deportation procedures, increased removals, and measures against illegal employment under its "zero illegal residents plan."
Current status: Trends in the second half of the year, and the impact the employment for skill development system launching in April 2027 will have on the foreign resident population, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
Responses at the municipal level play a role in bridging the gap between national policy design and residents' lived experience. Whether a move like this spreads to other municipalities will be worth watching going forward. In particular, whether information-sharing between municipalities facing similar challenges leads to wider adoption of successful approaches may shape how effective this policy area becomes overall.