Number of people using the Internet in Japan
Japan: Number of people using the Internet was 106.05 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in Japan, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, number of people using the internet in Japan stood at 106.05 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in Japan peaked at 118.41 million people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 25,066 people, in 1990.
That places Japan 9th out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people using the Internet in Japan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25,066 people | — |
| 1991 | 50,082 people | +99.8% |
| 1992 | 120,319 people | +140.2% |
| 1993 | 500,564 people | +316.0% |
| 1994 | 1.00 million people | +100.1% |
| 1995 | 2.00 million people | +99.2% |
| 1996 | 5.50 million people | +175.5% |
| 1997 | 11.55 million people | +110.1% |
| 1998 | 16.94 million people | +46.7% |
| 1999 | 27.10 million people | +60.0% |
| 2000 | 38.04 million people | +40.4% |
| 2001 | 48.99 million people | +28.8% |
| 2002 | 59.38 million people | +21.2% |
| 2003 | 61.86 million people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 79.72 million people | +28.9% |
| 2005 | 85.51 million people | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 87.82 million people | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 95.10 million people | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 96.56 million people | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 99.88 million people | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 100.16 million people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 101.06 million people | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 101.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 112.43 million people | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 113.41 million people | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 115.77 million people | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 118.41 million people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 116.47 million people | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 112.54 million people | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 117.43 million people | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 113.91 million people | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 104.21 million people | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 106.26 million people | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 105.85 million people | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 106.05 million people | +0.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 106.05 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 32.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Japan's 106.05 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 693,850 people, 152.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +316.0% | 120,319 people | 500,564 people |
| 1996 | +175.5% | 2.00 million people | 5.50 million people |
| 1992 | +140.2% | 50,082 people | 120,319 people |
| 1997 | +110.1% | 5.50 million people | 11.55 million people |
| 1994 | +100.1% | 500,564 people | 1.00 million people |
| 1991 | +99.8% | 25,066 people | 50,082 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.48 million people | 25,066 people | 27.10 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.29 million people | 38.04 million people | 99.88 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 110.91 million people | 100.16 million people | 118.41 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 107.26 million people | 104.21 million people | 113.91 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More science & technology data for Japan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 178.43 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 608.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 69,686 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 69,686 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in Japan?
- Number of people using the internet in Japan was 106.05 million people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi.
- What is the highest number of people using the internet recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 118.41 million people in 2016.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,066 people in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for number of people using the internet?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi, published as part of Number of people using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people who used the Internet in the last three months.