Yokohama, Japan Population 2024

Yokohama is a city located in Japan, and it is the capital of the Kanagawa Prefecture. The city – which is located south of Tokyo – is the second most populous in the country. This port city has a total population of over 3.7 million.

City Size and Population Density

With a total area of over 168 square miles (437.38 km²), the population density of Yokohama is 22,103 people per square mile (8,534.03/km²).

Demographics of Yokohama Population

The population has only slightly more male residents than female residents. The largest age demographic is the 65 to 69 range. There are over 91,000 foreign residents per data recorded in November 2017. The majority of foreign residents come from China. There are also immigrants that have come from Korea, the Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, India and the US.

History of Yokohama

The great city of Yokohama that we now know started as a humble fishing village. In the later years of 1800, the first port treaty was agreed upon and signed - opening up Japan to international trade and new interactions with foreign interests. Prior to the treaty, Japan held a policy of national seclusion that limited trade and travel to and from Japan.

There was an incident between local samurai and the British subjects that visited the village without proper deference to the regent of the city that sparked a conflict leading to the Bombardment of Kagoshima in 1863.

Imperial rule was restored by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The village quickly grew as trade increased and expanded, bringing newspapers, gas-powered lamps, and a power plant. By the following year, Yokohama was incorporated as an official city.

Uninterrupted growth occurred for a few decades, bringing huge numbers of immigrants and interests from around the world. However, the 1920s would set off a chain of painful events, including a deadly earthquake that took over 30,000 lives and the Second World War. In 1945, firebombing associated with WWII destroyed 42% of the city in less than two hours. After the war ended, Americans occupied the area for some time before moving to a nearby city. Yokohama began the process of re-building and has become a center of shipping and biotechnology.

Population Growth in Yokohama

The city’s role as a major commercial hub within the Greater Tokyo area makes it a desirable place to live. The city has seen steady population growth over the last several decades, a trend that is expected to continue in the future.