KUALA LUMPUR - The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record high of about 4.13 million at the end of 2025, marking the first time the figure has exceeded 4 million, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

The total increased by approximately 360,000 people over the past year, and by more than one million over the past three years.

Detailed statistics will be released later this month.

The figure includes mid to long term residents staying in Japan for more than three months, excluding short term visitors.

Government data show that the number has steadily risen in recent years.

At the end of 2021, the total stood at about 2.76 million, increasing to 3.07 million in 2022, 3.41 million in 2023, and 3.76 million in 2024, before reaching around 4.13 million in 2025.

The annual increase of more than 300,000 people is roughly equivalent to the population of a mid-sized core city being added each year.

Against this backdrop, the Japanese government, at a Cabinet meeting on March 10, approved a revision to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

The revision is expected to form part of broader efforts to address labor shortages and manage the growing foreign population in Japan.