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- What is the census?
Overview of the census
The census is the most important statistical survey.
It is conducted once every five years.
It covers all people living in Japan and their households.
The census is an important survey that can be used for improving the living environment, disaster prevention planning, and various other administrative measures indispensable to our daily lives.
Purpose of the census
The purpose of the census is to understand the actual conditions of people and households in Japan and to obtain basic data for various administrative measures and other programs. The first census was conducted in 1920, and the 2025 census will be Japan’s 22nd census.
Census date
The census will be conducted as of October 1, 2025.
Who is counted in the census
All people (including non-Japanese people) living in Japan as of October 1, 2025 and their households will be counted in the survey.
Census process
From late September 2025, census takers will visit each household and distribute census documents. You can respond either online or by completing the printed census questionnaire and mailing it or handing it to the census taker. (The census will be conducted according to the process in the diagram below.)
* Census supervisors and census takers are part-time national public employees appointed by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.
* In some areas, the census is conducted by a service provider entrusted with the enumeration work.
Examples of how the census is used
The results of the census are used by the national and local governments to undertake fair and efficient administrative operations based on accurate statistics, and are also used as basic data indispensable for producing various statistics. The results are also widely utilized in various fields, such as for demand forecasting and business management in companies and various organizations, as well as for research in academic and research institutions.
Examples of use based on laws and regulations
Act for Establishment of the Council for Demarcation of House of Representatives Electoral Districts
Revision of House of Representatives single-seat constituencies
Local Autonomy Act
Provisions for population as used in the Local Autonomy Act
Local Allocation Tax Act
Used to calculate local allocation tax
Other laws and regulations
- Public Offices Election Act
- Act on Special Measures for Promotion for Independence for Underpopulated Areas
- Local Tax Act
- Political Party Subsidies Act
- City Planning Act Enforcement Order
- Order for Enforcement of the Basic Act on Disaster Management
- Cabinet Order on Special Grants for Traffic Safety Measures
etc.
Examples of use for administrative measures
Measures related to
disaster prevention
- Disaster prevention planning
- Disaster recovery planning
- Damage prediction
- Development of damage prediction systems
Measures related to
regional revitalization
- Programs promoting urban revitalization projects
- Urban transportation planning
Examples of use for preparing and estimating official statistics
Estimating future population and
number of households
Sample design for
other household surveys
Examples of use in academic research, companies, etc.
Academic research
- Demography
- Geography
- Economics
- Sociology
Companies, etc.
- Understanding electricity demand and other types of demand
- Forecasting demand for product development and services
Measures related to low birthrate
and aging society