Good to know
Good to Know
- Tokyo's foreign population is concentrated in the 23 central wards, particularly Shinjuku and Toshima, with nearly 40% of residents in their early 20s being foreign nationals in those areas as of 2024—a historic demographic shift
- The digital nomad visa launched in March 2024 allows 6-month stays but does not grant residency status, meaning holders cannot open bank accounts, sign standard mobile contracts, or lease long-term apartments under normal Japanese procedures—alternative resources exist but require planning
- Chinese nationals comprise nearly 39% of all foreign residents in Tokyo and are spread evenly across the city; Vietnamese and Nepalese communities are concentrated in Shinjuku and Arakawa wards
- Americans (approximately 63,000 nationwide) and other Western nationalities are growing due to highly skilled worker and digital nomad visa pathways; Minato Ward is the primary hub for American expats due to embassy and corporate presence
- Tokyo's official registered foreign population (738,946 as of late 2024) does not include tourists on extended stays, digital nomad visa holders (non-resident status), or unregistered long-term residents—the true expat/long-term foreign population is likely 800,000-850,000+
- India's tech community in Tokyo centers around Edogawa Ward near Nishi-Kasai Station, developed since the early 2000s when companies hired Indian IT professionals for Year 2000 problem mitigation
Top Nationalities
- Countries Represented
- As of January 1, 2019, people from 184 different countries and regions make Tokyo their home
Ranking
Chinese
- Percentage Of Foreigner Population
- 38.75
- Rank
- 1
- Approximate Count In Tokyo
- 213767
- Notes
- Largest foreign group; concentrated evenly across 23 wards. Major community in Ikebukuro/Toshima Ward ('Ikebukuro Chinatown')
South Korean
- Percentage Of Foreigner Population
- 16.75
- Rank
- 2
- Notes
- Includes many historical special permanent residents and their descendants living in Japan since pre-1945
Vietnamese
- Percentage Of Foreigner Population
- 6.57
- Rank
- 3
- Notes
- Growing community concentrated in Shinjuku and Toshima wards; called 'Little Kathmandu' (shared with Nepalese community)
Filipino
- Percentage Of Foreigner Population
- 6.02
- Rank
- 4
Nepalese
- Percentage Of Foreigner Population
- 4.95
- Rank
- 5
- Notes
- Concentrated in Shinjuku/Okubo Ward and Arakawa Ward
American
- Concentrated Wards
- Minato (17.6% of American expats), Setagaya, Shibuya
- Rank
- Top Western nationals
- Growth Driver
- Highly skilled worker and digital nomad visa pathways
- Approximate Count Nationwide
- 63000
British
- Rank
- Western
- Growth Driver
- Digital nomad and skilled worker pathways
- Approximate Count Nationwide
- 20000
Indian
- Concentrated Wards
- Edogawa (34.2% of Indian population), known as 'Little India' near Nishi-Kasai Station
- Rank
- Western
- Primary Sectors
- Information technology and financial services since early 2000s
- Approximate Count In Tokyo
- 4148
Geographic Concentration
- Within 23 Wards
- Approximately 84% of Tokyo's foreign residents live in the 23 central special wards
Highest Concentration Wards
Shinjuku
- Percentage Of Ward
- 12.4
- Notable Demographics
- Nearly 40% of early-20s residents are foreign (as of 2024)
- Foreign Resident Count
- 43068
Edogawa
- Percentage Of Ward
- Notable for Indian community concentration
- Foreign Resident Count
- 35710
Adachi
- Foreign Resident Count
- 31706
Toshima
- Percentage Of Ward
- 10.06
- Notable Demographics
- Second-highest percentage; Vietnamese, Nepalese, Myanmar communities; nearly 40% of early-20s residents are foreign (as of 2024)
Arakawa
- Percentage Of Ward
- 8.79
- Notable Demographics
- Nepalese and Vietnamese communities
Minato
- Percentage Of Ward
- 7.81
- Reason
- Many embassies and foreign corporations located here; highest concentration of American expats
Demographic Notes
- Median Age
- As of 2021, median age was 45.5 years (below Japan's national median of 49.0)
- Aging Population
- As of 2024, approximately 23% of Tokyo residents are over age 65
- Young Adult Concentration
- Foreigners increasingly dominate younger age cohorts in central wards; nearly 40% of early-20s residents in Shinjuku and Toshima are foreign nationals as of 2024
- Internal Migration To Tokyo
- Steady net positive migration for decades, overwhelmingly concentrated among young adults aged 15-29 moving for education and work
Foreign Born Percentage
- Percentage
- Approximately 4.5-5.3% of total population
- Note
- Foreign residents comprise this share; Japan tracks citizenship rather than birthplace in official statistics
Total Population Official
- Figure
- 14195730
- Source Basis
- As of 2025, Tokyo Metropolitan Government official estimate
- Note
- This is the registered population of Tokyo Prefecture, including the 23 special wards, western municipalities, and island chains
Business And Tech Presence
- Key Sectors
- IT, software development, fintech, AI, biotech, pharmaceuticals, consulting, media, advertising
- Startup Ecosystem
- Growing foreign tech presence supported by Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiatives including Tech Business Camp Tokyo, Tokyo Innovation Base, and SusHi Tech Tokyo (one of Asia's leading startup events, welcoming 57,000+ participants globally)
- International Companies
- Tokyo is home to major offices for Microsoft, Google, Apple, Meta, and other global tech giants. Also hosts major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
- Tokyo In Global Rankings
- Ranked among top 3 cities in Asia for foreign direct investment and among top 3 globally for R&D and business activity
Visa Pathways For Business
- J Skip
- Highly skilled professional pathway; expanded visa program
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Launched March 2024; allows remote workers to stay 6 months with minimum annual income of ¥10 million (~$68,000 USD); does not grant residency status
- Foreign Worker Programs
- Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa categories expanded under 2019 immigration reform
- Engineer Specialist Visa
- For IT professionals and specialists in humanities/international services
Foreign Residents Official
- Growth Rate Yoy
- 11.4% increase from prior year
- Percentage Of Total
- 5.3
- Year As Of
- Late 2024
- Registered Count
- 738946
- Note
- Official registered foreign residents in Tokyo Prefecture
Foreign Residents Broader Estimate
- Basis
- Registered foreign residents (738,946) plus unregistered long-term visa tourists (digital nomad visa holders, tourist-visa remote workers, and undercounted temporary residents). Japan-wide, 4.12 million registered residents exist (as of April 2026), with Tokyo accounting for approximately 19.6% of the national total. However, unregistered and informal residents (including those on extended tourist visas and digital nomad visas, which do not grant residency status) are not systematically tracked in official statistics.
- Total Including Unregistered And Visa Tourists
- Approximately 800000 to 850000+
- Key Context
- Digital nomad visa holders do not receive residence cards and are not counted in official resident statistics. Tourist-visa remote workers similarly remain invisible in government counts. The broader estimate accounts for these structural gaps in official registration data.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Tokyo
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.