Demographic history of Japan before the Meiji Restoration
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Japan before the Meiji Restoration.
Population before Edo Era
Total population
Before the establishment of the Shūmon Ninbetsu Aratame Chō system by the Tokugawa shogunate, several less reliable sources existed upon which an estimate of the population was made. The first record of the population was the Chinese text "Records of Three Kingdoms", where the summated number of houses in eight countries of Wō is given as 159,000.The household registration system or Huji ), which is called koseki in Japanese, was introduced from ancient China to Japan during the 7th century. According to "Nihon Shoki", the first koseki system, called Kōgo no Nen Jaku or Kōin no Nen Jaku, was established between 670 or 690, and was to be readministered every six years. However, most of the original koseki texts were lost because they were to be preserved only 30 years. The oldest koseki fragments - which were reused as reinforcement papers. A discarded lacquer-coated paper document found in Kanoko C Ruins, Ishioka, Ibaraki records the total population of families of taxpayers in Hitachi Province in 795 was 191,660 ; this is the only reliable remaining census recorded for a whole province before the Edo period. The ancient koseki system later collapsed during the early Heian period, when aristocrats achieved power as landowners of Shōen.
The following estimates by different scholars are based upon the number of houses, villages, kokudaka, areas of rice fields and soldiers which were recorded in "Wamyō Ruijushō", "Record of Song or History of Song ", "Shūgaishō", "Tenshōki", "Tōdaiki", or fragments of papers of the Shōsōin and others, as well as remnants of specific periods.
| Year | Estimated Population by McEvedy & Jones | Estimated Population by Kitō | Estimated Population by Biraben | Estimated Population by Farris |
| 6100 BC | 20,100 | |||
| 3200 BC | 105,500 | |||
| 2300 BC | 261,300 | |||
| 1300 BC | 160,300 | |||
| 900 BC | 75,800 | |||
| 400 BC | 100,000 | |||
| 200 BC | 100,000 | 200,000 | ||
| 1 AD | 300,000 | 300,000 | ||
| 200 | 700,000 | 594,900 | 500,000 | |
| 400 | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | ||
| 500 | 2,000,000 | |||
| 600 | 3,000,000 | 4,000,000 | ||
| 700 | 5,000,000 | |||
| 715 | 4,512,200 | |||
| 730 | 5,800,000– 6,400,000 | |||
| 800 | 4,000,000 | 5,506,200 | 6,000,000 | |
| 900 | 6,441,400 | 7,000,000 | ||
| 950 | 4,400,000– 5,600,000 | |||
| 1000 | 4,500,000 | 7,000,000 | ||
| 1100 | 5,750,000 | 7,000,000 | ||
| 1150 | 6,836,900 | 5,500,000– 6,300,000 | ||
| 1200 | 7,500,000 | 6,000,000 | ||
| 1250 | 6,000,000 | |||
| 1280 | 5,700,000– 6,200,000 | |||
| 1300 | 9,750,000 | 7,000,000 | ||
| 1340 | 7,000,000 | |||
| 1400 | 12,500,000 | 8,000,000 | ||
| 1450 | 9,600,000– 10,500,000 | |||
| 1500 | 17,000,000 | 8,000,000 | ||
| 1600 | 22,000,000 | 12,273,000 | 12,000,000 | 15,000,000– 17,000,000 |
| 1650 | 25,000,000 | 17,497,900 | ||
| 1700 | 29,000,000 | 28,287,200 | 28,000,000 |
Urban population
Since Kyōto became the capital of Japan in 794, it has been one of the most important cities in Japan. Hiraizumi and Kamakura flourished under Northern Fujiwara clans and Kamakura shogunate, respectively. The urban area of Kyōto suffered from the Ōnin War and split into two districts, but coalesced into a great city of more than 400,000 inhabitants after the end of Sengoku period. The Christian missionaries led by Francis Xavier reported that the number of houses in Kyōto, Yamaguchi or Hakata was more than 90,000, more than 10,000 or 10,000, respectively, in the late 16th century according to History of Japan written by Luís Fróis. After the unification of Japan by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ōsaka grew into a populous city with tens of thousands of people. Several castle towns also began to grow, where samurai classes were settled.| Year | Asuka | Heijō-kyō | Heian-kyō | Hiraizumi | Hakata | Kamakura | Yamaguchi | Sakai | Ōsaka | Sumpu | Edo | Kanazawa |
| 622 | 50,000– 60,000 | |||||||||||
| 750 | 100,000 | |||||||||||
| 800 | 200,000 | |||||||||||
| 900 | 200,000 | |||||||||||
| 925 | 200,000 | |||||||||||
| 1000 | 175,000 | |||||||||||
| 1100 | 175,000 | |||||||||||
| 1150 | 150,000 | 50,000 | 9,000 | |||||||||
| 1200 | 100,000 | 175,000 | ||||||||||
| 1250 | 70,000 | 200,000 | ||||||||||
| 1300 | 40,000 | 200,000 | ||||||||||
| 1350 | 8,000 | 150,000 | ||||||||||
| 1400 | 150,000 | 40,000 | ||||||||||
| 1450 | 8,000 | 150,000 | 50,000 | 35,000 | ||||||||
| 1500 | 40,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 30,000 | 25,000– 26,000 | |||||||
| 1550 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 17,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | |||||
| 1575 | 300,000 | 35,000 | 90,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 | |||||||
| 1600 | 300,000 | 50,000 | 80,000 | 82,000 | 280,000 | 100,000 | 60,000 | 50,000 |
Population during the Edo and early Meiji eras (1600 to 1873)
Total population
After the Shimabara Rebellion, several daimyōs adopted certification systems where all the individuals were to be registered to temples and shrines to avoid Christianity. The Danka system was officially set by Tokugawa shogunate in 1664, and demographic data of individuals registered to temples and shrines were recorded. After decades, Tokugawa Yoshimune decided to survey the total population of Japan and ordered to collect demographic data of all the domains and shogunate territories. The first census was surveyed every six years since 1721 and finished in 1846, because the confusion after the Perry Expedition and death of Tokugawa Ieyoshi in 1853 postponed the calculation process of the demographic data collected in 1852, according to Suijin Roku edited byby Biraben
Population
by Kito
Chikkyō Yohitsu Besshū
Chikkyō Yohitsu Besshū, Suijin Roku
Kanchū Hisaku, Suijin Roku
Tenmei Kansei Ninzū Chō
Suijin Roku
Kasshi Yawa Vol. 87,
Suijin Roku
Kansei Jū-nen Oyobi Bunsei Go-nen Kunibetsu Ninzū Chō
Tenmei Kansei Ninzū Chō
Kansei Jū-nen Oyobi Bunsei Go-nen Kunibetsu Ninzū Chō
Tokugawa Rizai Kaiyō, Taihei Nenpyō
Meiji 3
Meiji 5
[Total Fertility Rate] from 1800 to 1873
The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on approximated and fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.| Years | 1800 | 1801 | 1802 | 1803 | 1804 | 1805 | 1806 | 1807 | 1808 | 1809 | 1810 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Japan | 4.08 | 4.11 | 4.14 | 4.17 | 4.2 | 4.23 | 4.25 | 4.28 | 4.31 | 4.34 | 4.37 |
| Years | 1821 | 1822 | 1823 | 1824 | 1825 | 1826 | 1827 | 1828 | 1829 | 1830 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Japan | 4.47 | 4.47 | 4.48 | 4.48 | 4.48 | 4.49 | 4.49 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.51 |
| Years | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Japan | 4.58 | 4.59 | 4.6 | 4.61 | 4.62 | 4.64 | 4.65 | 4.66 | 4.67 | 4.68 |
| Years | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Japan | 4.82 | 4.83 | 4.84 | 4.7 | 4.55 | 4.41 | 4.27 | 4.13 | 3.98 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.56 | 3.41 |
Regional population
Former provinces
Some demographic data for former provinces or kuni remain recorded. Similarly to the total population, recorded provincial population excludes ruling and exceptional classes, while that in 1873 includes all the registered people.| Province | Japanese | 1721 | 1750 | 1756 | 1786 | 1792 | 1798 | 1804 | 1822 | 1828 | 1834 | 1840 | 1846 | 1873 | Area | Area | Number of Counties in 1834 | Number of Villages in 1834 | Cereal production in 1834 |
| Kinai | 2,249,792 | 2,139,480 | 2,170,087 | 2,041,309 | 2,027,334 | 2,048,799 | 2,017,308 | 2,074,967 | 2,099,644 | 2,077,269 | 1,935,301 | 1,998,736 | 2,036,842 | 445.59 | 6,872.54 | 55 | 3,651 | 1,615,527.199925 | |
| Yamashiro no kuni | 564,994 | 522,626 | 527,334 | 507,488 | 506,324 | 480,993 | 469,517 | 478,652 | 498,296 | 488,726 | 445,432 | 452,140 | 431,453 | 73.08 | 1,127.15 | 8 | 477 | 230,131.760865 | |
| Yamato no kuni | 413,331 | 374,041 | 367,724 | 336,254 | 329,286 | 344,043 | 340,706 | 346,319 | 356,627 | 360,071 | 338,571 | 361,157 | 423,004 | 201.42 | 3,106.60 | 15 | 1,354 | 501,361.691560 | |
| Kawachi no kuni | 243,820 | 231,266 | 206,568 | 205,585 | 209,296 | 218,102 | 214,945 | 244,816 | 223,747 | 224,822 | 211,559 | 224,055 | 239,191 | 43.99 | 678.48 | 16 | 545 | 293,786.634500 | |
| Izumi no kuni | 218,405 | 207,952 | 226,480 | 190,762 | 190,466 | 199,083 | 202,283 | 205,545 | 208,884 | 207,211 | 189,786 | 197,656 | 212,251 | 33.47 | 516.22 | 4 | 320 | 172,847.986000 | |
| Settsu no kuni | 809,242 | 803,595 | 841,981 | 801,220 | 791,962 | 806,578 | 789,857 | 799,635 | 812,090 | 796,439 | 749,953 | 763,728 | 730,943 | 93.63 | 1,444.10 | 12 | 955 | 417,399.127000 | |
| Tōkaidō | 6,612,785 | 6,605,014 | 6,522,189 | 6,031,917 | 5,864,119 | 6,061,401 | 6,032,987 | 6,182,091 | 6,384,212 | 6,169,363 | 6,192,155 | 6,425,259 | 7,451,669 | 2,660.63 | 41,036.15 | 129 | 15,323 | 6,652,134.556760 | |
| Iga no kuni | 95,978 | 91,392 | 88,526 | 82,352 | 79,648 | 80,647 | 80,196 | 85,636 | 87,949 | 89,243 | 88,616 | 91,774 | 97,190 | 47.34 | 730.15 | 14 | 182 | 110,096.536000 | |
| Ise no kuni | 543,737 | 523,037 | 519,187 | 478,906 | 462,682 | 477,899 | 476,500 | 494,640 | 498,171 | 499,958 | 480,032 | 499,874 | 581,669 | 231.15 | 3,565.14 | 13 | 1,325 | 716,451.492700 | |
| Shima no kuni | 31,856 | 34,068 | 34,261 | 37,184 | 36,888 | 38,617 | 37,875 | 40,401 | 40,919 | 41,888 | 39,210 | 40,693 | 46,943 | 19.74 | 304.46 | 2 | 56 | 21,470.398000 | |
| Owari no kuni | 554,561 | 553,340 | 576,363 | 595,264 | 582,183 | 605,084 | 605,686 | 631,809 | 646,555 | 643,977 | 622,539 | 653,678 | 731,974 | 104.18 | 1,606.82 | 8 | 1,008 | 545,875.793000 | |
| Mikawa no kuni | 416,204 | 419,283 | 425,745 | 419,349 | 360,795 | 423,893 | 420,697 | 437,019 | 439,635 | 440,264 | 421,432 | 431,800 | 485,470 | 208.62 | 3,217.64 | 8 | 1,292 | 466,080.746800 | |
| Tōtōmi no kuni | 342,663 | 333,744 | 341,724 | 332,100 | 334,246 | 352,033 | 342,398 | 386,581 | 361,236 | 360,818 | 350,967 | 363,959 | 416,543 | 196.44 | 3,029.79 | 12 | 1,094 | 369,552.575180 | |
| Suruga no kuni | 245,834 | 313,817 | 250,582 | 242,165 | 242,457 | 248,127 | 252,072 | 288,824 | 277,763 | 253,848 | 274,705 | 286,290 | 369,731 | 219.77 | 3,389.62 | 7 | 780 | 250,538.753090 | |
| Kai no kuni | 291,168 | 314,193 | 317,349 | 305,934 | 284,474 | 309,604 | 297,903 | 291,675 | 391,499 | 318,474 | 300,152 | 310,273 | 362,973 | 289.85 | 4,470.49 | 4 | 769 | 312,159.329490 | |
| Izu no kuni | 96,650 | 105,120 | 105,272 | 120,629 | 98,226 | 102,551 | 125,505 | 134,722 | 136,796 | 144,595 | 110,523 | 115,197 | 150,549 | 106.11 | 1,636.58 | 4 | 284 | 84,171.293620 | |
| Sagami no kuni | 312,638 | 310,796 | 305,569 | 279,427 | 277,699 | 277,211 | 278,068 | 269,839 | 289,376 | 294,009 | 285,196 | 303,271 | 359,598 | 128.87 | 1,987.62 | 9 | 671 | 286,719.756890 | |
| Musashi no kuni | 1,903,316 | 1,771,214 | 1,774,064 | 1,626,968 | 1,634,048 | 1,666,131 | 1,654,368 | 1,694,255 | 1,717,455 | 1,714,054 | 1,721,359 | 1,777,371 | 1,968,753 | 391.63 | 6,040.29 | 22 | 3,042 | 1,281,431.068820 | |
| Awa no kuni | 115,579 | 158,440 | 137,565 | 125,052 | 130,836 | 133,513 | 132,993 | 139,662 | 140,830 | 144,581 | 139,442 | 143,500 | 155,331 | 34.86 | 537.66 | 4 | 280 | 95,736.239070 | |
| Kazusa no kuni | 407,553 | 453,460 | 438,788 | 388,542 | 376,441 | 368,831 | 364,560 | 372,347 | 362,411 | 364,240 | 358,714 | 360,761 | 423,596 | 140.69 | 2,169.93 | 9 | 1,194 | 425,080.453410 | |
| Shimōsa no kuni | 542,661 | 567,603 | 565,614 | 483,526 | 468,413 | 484,641 | 478,721 | 419,106 | 497,758 | 402,093 | 499,507 | 525,041 | 648,394 | 206.50 | 3,184.95 | 12 | 1,623 | 681,062.631660 | |
| Hitachi no kuni | 712,387 | 655,507 | 641,580 | 514,519 | 495,083 | 492,619 | 485,445 | 495,575 | 495,859 | 457,321 | 499,761 | 521,777 | 652,955 | 334.88 | 5,165.01 | 11 | 1,723 | 1,005,707.489030 | |
| Tōsandō | 5,879,324 | 5,680,006 | 5,659,556 | 5,267,640 | 5,204,842 | 5,294,135 | 5,303,859 | 5,435,750 | 5,511,868 | 5,446,583 | 5,089,068 | 5,328,995 | 6,785,623 | 6,847.50 | 105,612.22 | 132 | 14,691 | 7,954,049.255308 | |
| Ōmi no kuni | 602,367 | 575,216 | 573,797 | 583,940 | 573,617 | 538,442 | 532,968 | 557,491 | 547,724 | 511,948 | 527,412 | 541,732 | 578,099 | 257.15 | 3,966.15 | 12 | 1,516 | 853,095.305590 | |
| Mino no kuni | 545,919 | 533,091 | 543,510 | 556,165 | 536,904 | 563,863 | 566,355 | 598,580 | 609,459 | 607,269 | 570,807 | 583,137 | 668,148 | 402.87 | 6,213.65 | 21 | 1,602 | 699,764.321660 | |
| Hida no kuni | 67,032 | 72,323 | 74,907 | 77,939 | 76,401 | 79,393 | 81,768 | 89,818 | 91,382 | 93,765 | 82,967 | 86,338 | 98,822 | 268.58 | 4,142.44 | 3 | 414 | 56,602.309000 | |
| Shinano no kuni | 693,947 | 686,651 | 706,974 | 723,295 | 714,199 | 742,791 | 748,142 | 778,025 | 797,099 | 808,073 | 775,313 | 794,698 | 924,867 | 853.76 | 13,167.94 | 10 | 1,615 | 767,788.077600 | |
| Kōzuke no kuni | 569,550 | 576,075 | 579,987 | 522,869 | 513,915 | 514,172 | 497,034 | 456,950 | 464,226 | 451,830 | 426,073 | 428,092 | 509,941 | 407.25 | 6,281.21 | 14 | 1,217 | 637,331.633100 | |
| Shimotsuke no kuni | 560,020 | 554,261 | 535,743 | 434,791 | 404,818 | 413,337 | 404,495 | 395,045 | 375,957 | 342,260 | 367,654 | 378,665 | 501,849 | 411.77 | 6,350.92 | 9 | 1,365 | 769,905.027038 | |
| Mutsu no kuni | 1,962,839 | 1,836,134 | 1,806,192 | 1,563,719 | 1,568,218 | 1,589,178 | 1,602,948 | 1,650,629 | 1,680,102 | 1,690,509 | 1,506,193 | 1,603,881 | 2,305,961 | 2,956.76 | 45,603.50 | 51 | 4,519 | 2,874,239.059880 | |
| Iwaki no kuni | 349,594 | 429.83 | 6,629.47 | 14 | 963 | 613,924.675660 | |||||||||||||
| Iwashiro no kuni | 430,163 | 497.52 | 7,673.49 | 9 | 1,305 | 755,703.961220 | |||||||||||||
| Rikuzen no kuni | 539,614 | 525.92 | 8,111.51 | 14 | 702 | 697,838.180000 | |||||||||||||
| Rikuchū no kuni | 513,273 | 830.98 | 12,816.60 | 10 | 537 | 423,134.490000 | |||||||||||||
| Mutsu no kuni | 473,317 | 672.51 | 10,372.44 | 4 | 1,012 | 383,637.753000 | |||||||||||||
| Dewa no kuni | 877,650 | 846,255 | 838,446 | 804,922 | 816,770 | 852,959 | 870,149 | 909,212 | 945,919 | 940,929 | 832,649 | 912,452 | 1,197,936 | 1,289.36 | 19,886.41 | 12 | 2,443 | 1,295,323.521440 | |
| Uzen no kuni | 567,361 | 546.64 | 8,431.09 | 4 | 1,204 | 804,569.693740 | |||||||||||||
| Ugo no kuni | 630,575 | 742.72 | 11,455.32 | 8 | 1,239 | 490,753.827700 | |||||||||||||
| Hokurikudō | 2,155,663 | 2,160,541 | 2,212,937 | 2,108,387 | 2,190,010 | 2,269,348 | 2,307,745 | 2,511,390 | 2,598,219 | 2,640,844 | 2,401,206 | 2,534,477 | 3,309,335 | 1,633.01 | 25,186.68 | 33 | 8,910 | 3,622,488.969650 | |
| Wakasa no kuni | 86,598 | 78,072 | 77,729 | 79,323 | 76,124 | 78,356 | 78,715 | 83,056 | 84,678 | 84,366 | 83,956 | 77,183 | 85,813 | 54.75 | 844.44 | 3 | 255 | 91,018.822200 | |
| Echizen no kuni | 367,652 | 348,052 | 344,830 | 332,019 | 335,813 | 350,833 | 354,038 | 375,572 | 386,071 | 397,823 | 328,217 | 353,674 | 454,229 | 217.67 | 3,357.23 | 8 | 1,533 | 689,304.819870 | |
| Kaga no kuni | 206,933 | 202,429 | 160,778 | 196,732 | 189,682 | 192,738 | 196,725 | 220,004 | 220,267 | 230,461 | 223,338 | 238,291 | 405,268 | 147.83 | 2,280.05 | 4 | 768 | 483,665.848700 | |
| Noto no kuni | 152,113 | 157,765 | 212,048 | 137,427 | 159,436 | 165,188 | 167,534 | 193,569 | 198,111 | 197,704 | 179,431 | 186,970 | 264,379 | 122.72 | 1,892.77 | 4 | 666 | 275,369.990210 | |
| Etchū no kuni | 314,158 | 313,562 | 313,710 | 317,265 | 327,327 | 337,129 | 345,419 | 383,265 | 413,888 | 402,411 | 383,583 | 403,121 | 623,977 | 266.41 | 4,108.97 | 4 | 1,376 | 808,008.461820 | |
| Echigo no kuni | 932,461 | 970,185 | 1,013,331 | 954,524 | 1,011,067 | 1,053,674 | 1,072,904 | 1,154,052 | 1,191,935 | 1,224,947 | 1,099,980 | 1,172,973 | 1,372,116 | 767.29 | 11,834.28 | 7 | 4,051 | 1,142,555.535850 | |
| Sado no kuni | 95,748 | 90,476 | 90,511 | 91,097 | 90,561 | 91,430 | 92,410 | 101,872 | 103,269 | 103,132 | 102,701 | 102,265 | 103,553 | 56.34 | 868.96 | 3 | 261 | 132,565.491000 | |
| San'indō | 1,263,340 | 1,306,567 | 1,340,875 | 1,368,649 | 1,362,540 | 1,427,610 | 1,441,698 | 1,519,467 | 1,544,033 | 1,569,651 | 1,430,878 | 1,487,122 | 1,634,188 | 1,109.83 | 17,117.43 | 53 | 4,214 | 1,499,296.436760 | |
| Tanba no kuni | 284,893 | 276,336 | 282,018 | 281,356 | 275,038 | 281,234 | 282,493 | 290,243 | 291,869 | 292,808 | 276,117 | 280,947 | 295,681 | 206.67 | 3,187.57 | 6 | 880 | 324,136.268670 | |
| Tango no kuni | 125,276 | 134,476 | 135,392 | 141,191 | 141,364 | 146,762 | 147,403 | 154,763 | 157,401 | 159,211 | 149,063 | 154,308 | 162,084 | 77.10 | 1,189.15 | 5 | 388 | 147,614.804460 | |
| Tajima no kuni | 149,732 | 156,612 | 154,980 | 158,455 | 160,030 | 164,764 | 167,549 | 179,408 | 181,052 | 184,323 | 162,243 | 173,573 | 187,980 | 165.92 | 2,559.06 | 8 | 623 | 144,313.084030 | |
| Inaba no kuni | 122,030 | 125,085 | 125,091 | 123,622 | 123,532 | 126,695 | 128,643 | 132,670 | 135,969 | 136,204 | 120,879 | 127,797 | 162,920 | 98.59 | 1,520.60 | 8 | 553 | 177,844.624000 | |
| Hōki no kuni | 132,981 | 140,719 | 144,552 | 155,289 | 155,532 | 166,449 | 169,570 | 180,730 | 186,813 | 191,175 | 168,310 | 177,420 | 194,525 | 125.57 | 1,936.73 | 6 | 754 | 217,990.822280 | |
| Izumo no kuni | 222,330 | 234,896 | 220,094 | 258,916 | 260,189 | 271,667 | 279,177 | 299,708 | 308,346 | 315,270 | 302,837 | 309,906 | 340,222 | 181.61 | 2,801.06 | 10 | 504 | 302,627.465000 | |
| Iwami no kuni | 207,965 | 219,512 | 259,202 | 229,113 | 225,783 | 248,076 | 245,203 | 257,508 | 257,349 | 264,948 | 225,657 | 236,963 | 262,035 | 232.32 | 3,583.18 | 6 | 451 | 172,209.768320 | |
| Oki no kuni | 18,133 | 18,931 | 19,546 | 20,707 | 21,072 | 21,963 | 21,660 | 24,437 | 25,234 | 25,712 | 25,772 | 26,208 | 28,741 | 22.05 | 340.09 | 4 | 61 | 12,559.600000 | |
| San'yōdō | 2,657,695 | 2,634,975 | 2,702,284 | 2,747,716 | 2,733,792 | 2,823,445 | 2,822,910 | 2,960,990 | 3,038,751 | 3,065,355 | 2,915,809 | 3,028,359 | 3,550,654 | 1,571.35 | 24,235.67 | 81 | 4,813 | 3,211,546.810710 | |
| Harima no kuni | 633,725 | 551,393 | 627,943 | 607,758 | 602,410 | 608,890 | 599,401 | 609,246 | 613,534 | 600,731 | 581,713 | 594,560 | 639,576 | 238.58 | 3,679.73 | 16 | 1,796 | 651,964.813500 | |
| Mimasaka no kuni | 194,226 | 175,168 | 173,421 | 157,747 | 132,445 | 157,066 | 153,397 | 159,007 | 159,850 | 164,018 | 156,196 | 165,468 | 215,676 | 170.56 | 2,630.63 | 12 | 628 | 262,099.098000 | |
| Bizen no kuni | 338,523 | 322,982 | 325,550 | 321,627 | 316,881 | 321,221 | 318,273 | 318,203 | 318,771 | 318,647 | 304,229 | 310,576 | 333,714 | 94.25 | 1,453.66 | 8 | 673 | 416,581.854000 | |
| Bitchū no kuni | 333,731 | 365,410 | 325,531 | 316,904 | 316,735 | 327,100 | 328,408 | 337,155 | 343,792 | 347,415 | 335,494 | 346,927 | 399,218 | 156.50 | 2,413.77 | 11 | 484 | 363,915.614210 | |
| Bingo no kuni | 321,008 | 306,818 | 310,989 | 303,731 | 307,029 | 315,363 | 318,577 | 342,184 | 351,597 | 360,656 | 344,919 | 360,832 | 459,109 | 234.03 | 3,609.55 | 14 | 494 | 312,054.932000 | |
| Aki no kuni | 361,431 | 396,878 | 414,209 | 454,112 | 466,261 | 491,278 | 499,081 | 547,296 | 564,271 | 578,516 | 527,849 | 553,708 | 673,301 | 286.72 | 4,422.22 | 8 | 436 | 310,648.489000 | |
| Suō no kuni | 262,927 | 289,392 | 291,334 | 344,800 | 351,110 | 357,507 | 358,761 | 397,836 | 429,329 | 436,198 | 413,630 | 435,188 | 498,732 | 189.20 | 2,918.12 | 6 | 152 | 489,428.677000 | |
| Nagato no kuni | 212,124 | 226,934 | 233,307 | 241,037 | 240,921 | 245,020 | 247,012 | 250,063 | 257,607 | 259,171 | 251,779 | 261,100 | 331,328 | 201.51 | 3,107.98 | 6 | 150 | 404,853.333000 | |
| Nankaidō | 2,156,379 | 2,204,070 | 2,227,504 | 2,268,283 | 2,240,675 | 2,280,438 | 2,350,336 | 2,490,692 | 2,537,174 | 2,577,251 | 2,491,662 | 2,565,745 | 3,244,966 | 1,599.32 | 24,667.07 | 51 | 4,451 | 1,889,261.906450 | |
| Kii no kuni | 519,022 | 508,674 | 512,898 | 500,621 | 478,499 | 473,609 | 477,361 | 508,112 | 516,478 | 520,902 | 489,036 | 499,826 | 620,241 | 381.17 | 5,878.96 | 7 | 1,337 | 440,858.377710 | |
| Awaji no kuni | 105,226 | 107,113 | 107,120 | 106,161 | 104,352 | 104,269 | 112,449 | 119,327 | 123,748 | 123,500 | 119,147 | 122,773 | 165,485 | 36.73 | 566.50 | 2 | 251 | 97,164.784000 | |
| Awa no kuni | 342,386 | 362,905 | 363,254 | 369,280 | 368,536 | 375,358 | 425,304 | 446,291 | 454,120 | 459,244 | 431,050 | 448,287 | 590,048 | 271.13 | 4,181.77 | 10 | 455 | 268,894.329000 | |
| Sanuki no kuni | 334,153 | 357,326 | 362,874 | 384,851 | 386,062 | 396,122 | 395,980 | 409,815 | 422,508 | 432,648 | 419,969 | 433,880 | 564,351 | 113.74 | 1,754.27 | 11 | 377 | 291,320.256400 | |
| Iyo no kuni | 504,045 | 499,860 | 508,592 | 514,773 | 516,186 | 531,378 | 529,829 | 563,669 | 574,847 | 585,651 | 580,589 | 599,948 | 778,556 | 341.56 | 5,268.04 | 14 | 955 | 460,997.639340 | |
| Tosa no kuni | 351,547 | 368,192 | 372,766 | 392,597 | 387,040 | 399,702 | 409,413 | 443,478 | 445,473 | 455,306 | 451,871 | 461,031 | 526,285 | 454.99 | 7,017.53 | 7 | 1,076 | 330,026.520000 | |
| Saikaidō | 3,074,829 | 3,165,370 | 3,203,636 | 3,226,255 | 3,240,720 | 3,237,146 | 3,299,697 | 3,366,302 | 3,422,274 | 3,449,732 | 3,397,987 | 3,468,045 | 5,163,730 | 2,831 | 43,661 | 96 | 7,509 | 4,114,612.705576 | |
| Chikuzen no kuni | 302,160 | 307,439 | 306,173 | 307,778 | 304,199 | 307,982 | 313,420 | 321,857 | 329,886 | 335,803 | 339,434 | 346,942 | 445,278 | 158.63 | 2,446.63 | 15 | 901 | 651,782.278440 | |
| Chikugo no kuni | 266,426 | 260,875 | 263,176 | 270,448 | 273,293 | 272,239 | 277,579 | 284,169 | 292,913 | 307,206 | 295,678 | 299,041 | 393,656 | 80.87 | 1,247.30 | 10 | 710 | 375,588.897800 | |
| Buzen no kuni | 248,187 | 242,653 | 254,195 | 237,537 | 236,331 | 234,342 | 235,950 | 239,269 | 243,949 | 247,176 | 240,798 | 249,274 | 307,535 | 136.63 | 2,107.31 | 8 | 677 | 368,913.640500 | |
| Bungo no kuni | 524,394 | 511,880 | 511,706 | 469,687 | 468,200 | 464,722 | 466,106 | 474,016 | 474,540 | 475,985 | 457,229 | 470,875 | 565,460 | 344.11 | 5,307.37 | 8 | 1,473 | 417,514.227150 | |
| Hizen no kuni | 609,926 | 632,923 | 647,831 | 662,342 | 678,029 | 674,272 | 712,654 | 683,536 | 701,527 | 699,154 | 692,334 | 713,593 | 1,082,488 | 319.80 | 4,932.43 | 11 | 1,400 | 706,470.723196 | |
| Higo no kuni | 614,007 | 620,244 | 621,294 | 646,892 | 656,035 | 663,414 | 671,316 | 720,216 | 738,078 | 743,544 | 741,677 | 755,781 | 950,389 | 489.29 | 7,546.55 | 14 | 1,116 | 611,920.291100 | |
| Hyūga no kuni | 211,614 | 225,421 | 225,713 | 230,133 | 228,691 | 229,624 | 230,783 | 241,310 | 243,412 | 245,476 | 249,955 | 247,621 | 382,564 | 511.40 | 7,887.56 | 5 | 483 | 340,128.861790 | |
| Ōsumi no kuni | 112,616 | 131,623 | 132,787 | 126,022 | 121,031 | 116,167 | 114,166 | 107,603 | 104,218 | 103,096 | 97,228 | 99,212 | 220,578 | 247.36 | 3,815.15 | 8 | 230 | 170,833.451000 | |
| Satsuma no kuni | 149,039 | 194,312 | 205,385 | 237,889 | 236,127 | 235,630 | 238,493 | 250,831 | 251,649 | 248,364 | 239,891 | 241,797 | 586,324 | 332.68 | 5,131.08 | 13 | 258 | 315,005.600120 | |
| Iki-shima | 19,993 | 23,200 | 23,404 | 23,391 | 24,771 | 24,968 | 25,368 | 26,532 | 27,624 | 27,215 | 27,210 | 27,005 | 32,929 | 8.81 | 135.88 | 2 | 50 | 32,742.921000 | |
| Tsushima-jima | 16,467 | 14,800 | 11,972 | 14,136 | 14,013 | 13,786 | 13,862 | 16,963 | 14,478 | 16,713 | 16,553 | 16,904 | 29,740 | 44.33 | 683.72 | 2 | 140 | 0.000000 | |
| Ryūkyū-han | 166,789 | 156.91 | 2,420.10 | 0 | 71 | 123,711.813480 | |||||||||||||
| Hokkaidō | 15,615 | 21,807 | 22,632 | 26,310 | 27,409 | 28,711 | 45,417 | 61,948 | 65,023 | 67,862 | 64,346 | 70,887 | 123,668 | 6,093.93 | 93,989.55 | 0 | 128 | 0.000000 | |
| Ezo chi–Matsumae han | 15,615 | 21,807 | 22,632 | 26,310 | 27,409 | 28,711 | 45,417 | 61,948 | 65,023 | 67,862 | 64,346 | 70,887 | 123,668 | 6,093.93 | 93,989.55 | 0 | 128 | 0.000000 | |
| Ishikari no kuni | 6,003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shiribeshi no kuni | 19,098 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Iburi no kuni | 6,251 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Oshima no kuni | 75,830 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hidaka no kuni | 6,574 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tokachi no kuni | 1,464 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kushiro no kuni | 1,734 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nemuro no kuni | 832 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chishima no kuni | 437 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kitami no kuni | 1,511 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teshio no kuni | 1,576 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Karafuto Kaitaku-shi | 2,358 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 26,065,422 | 25,917,830 | 26,061,700 | 25,086,466 | 24,891,441 | 25,471,033 | 25,621,957 | 26,603,597 | 27,201,198 | 27,063,907 | 25,918,412 | 26,907,625 | 33,300,675 | 24,791.98 | 382,378.39 | 630 | 63,690 | 30,558,917.841139 | |
| General total | 26,065,422 | 25,917,830 | 26,061,830 | 25,086,466 | 24,891,441 | 25,471,033 | 25,621,957 | 26,602,110 | 27,201,400 | 27,063,907 | 25,918,412 | 26,907,625 | 33,300,675 | 24,796.63 | 382,450.11 | 630 | 63,690 | 30,558,917.841139 |
After the beginning of the Tokugawa census, population growth fell almost to zero until the end of the Sakoku policy. On the other hand, regional demographic data suggest that population growth differed depending on area; the population of Tōhoku region, especially in Mutsu decreased drastically, probably because of famines. The population of Kansai region, which was the most densely populated and the most cultivated area of that time, as well as that of Kantō region, also slightly decreased, probably because the surplus population in the rural areas moved to the big cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo, where the life expectancy at birth were much lower than that in rural areas. On the other hand, populations in most of western Japan including Chūgoku region, Shikoku and Kyūshū steadily increased, where growth was sustained by the introduction of New World crops such as sweet potato, pumpkin, or corn.
Ryūkyū, Amami, Ezo and Karafuto
The populations of Ryūkyū and Amami Islands were surveyed by the Satsuma Domain, which had formal possession of Satsuma, Ōsumi and part of Hyūga in southern Kyūshū, and recorded in Satsuma domestic texts, although they were not reported to the Tokugawa shogunate and were thus excluded from the total population of Japan. The populations of Ryūkyū and Amami Islands were included in the total populations of Japan after the Meiji Restoration.The populations recorded in Satsuma domestic texts include all the classes, from several samurai classes to people who were discriminated against.
On the other hand, the populations of Ainu in eastern Ezo and western Ezo have been recorded since 1798 and 1810, respectively, and were thus included in the total population of Japan.
Domains (han) and estates of the realm
Meiji government tried to unify the registered system of Shūmon Ninbetsu Aratame Chō in consonant with that of each other among domains and prefectures into a single registered system of koseki. However population were still surveyed by domains until the Abolition of the han system in 1871. The total population of Japan on July 28, 1870 was collected by different systems of domains, but included all the registered people of all classes.The uniformed system of Jinshin koseki was finally established in 1872, where the discriminated classes of eta and hinin were assimilated into the citizens class and discriminated. The honseki population in 1872 includes 29 imperial members, 2,666 noblemen, 1,282,167 former samurai class members, 658,074 and 3,316 lower former samurai class members, 211,846 and 9,621 Buddhist monks and nuns, 102,477 former Shintō priests, 30,837,271 citizens
Urban population
After the Battle of Sekigahara, Yamaguchi declined, while Edo and Sumpu became important under the Tokugawa shogunate. According to Rodrigo de Vivero y Velasco, the populations of Kyōto, Ōsaka, Edo, Sumpu and Sakai were 300,000–400,000, 200,000, 150,000, 120,000 and 80,000, respectively, while the two towns between Sumpu and Kyōto had 30,000 and 40,000 inhabitants in 1609. After the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Sumpu became less important, while Edo, Ōsaka and Kyōto became the three most important cities and were called the santo with tens of thousands of inhabitants.Below is a list of the estimated population of major Japanese urbans during Edo period. Although Hiroshima, Wakayama, Tokushima, Hagi, Takamatsu and Sumpu were important castle towns of major domains, estimated populations are not given because of the lack of sufficient demographic records. Population of Shuri, the capital of the Kingdom of Ryūkyū, is also not estimated, while Yokohama was only a small village of less than 100 houses until the opening of the port in 1859.
| Urban | 1650 | 1750 | 1850 | 1873 | Type |
| Edo | 430,000 | 1,220,000 | 1,150,000 | 595,905 | de facto capital |
| Ōsaka | 220,000 | 410,000 | 330,000 | 271,992 | market town |
| Kyōto | 430,000 | 370,000 | 290,000 | 238,663 | de jure capital |
| Nagoya | 87,000 | 106,000 | 116,000 | 125,193 | castle town |
| Kanazawa | 114,000 | 128,000 | 118,000 | 109,685 | castle town |
| Kagoshima | 50,000 | 58,000 | 42,000 | 89,374 | castle town |
| Hiroshima | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 74,305 | castle town |
| Yokohama | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 64,602 | fishery village before 1859 |
| Wakayama | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 61,124 | castle town |
| Sendai | 57,000 | 60,000 | 48,000 | 51,998 | castle town |
| Tokushima | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 48,861 | castle town |
| Hagi | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 45,318 | castle town |
| Shuri | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 44,984 | capital of Ryūkyū |
| Toyama | 8,000 | 17,000 | 33,000 | 44,682 | castle town |
| Kumamoto | 17,000 | 29,000 | 41,000 | 44,620 | castle town |
| Hakata and Fukuoka | 53,000 | 43,000 | 32,000 | 41,635 | port and castle towns |
| Hyōgo and Kōbe | 20,000 | 25,000 | 22,000 | 40,900 | port town and fishery village |
| Fukui | 48,000 | 43,000 | 39,000 | 39,784 | castle town |
| Kōchi | 20,000 | 24,000 | 28,000 | 39,757 | castle town |
| Sakai | 69,000 | 47,000 | 41,000 | 38,838 | port town |
| Kubota | 18,000 | 22,000 | 27,000 | 38,118 | castle town |
| Matsue | 18,000 | 28,000 | 36,000 | 37,808 | castle town |
| Niigata | 4,000 | 14,000 | 27,000 | 33,152 | port town |
| Hirosaki | 11,000 | 31,000 | 37,000 | 32,886 | castle town |
| Takamatsu | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 32,736 | castle town |
| Okayama | 29,000 | 26,000 | 20,000 | 32,372 | castle town |
| Sumpu | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 31,555 | castle town |
| Nagasaki | 37,000 | 45,000 | 31,000 | 29,656 | overseas port town |
| Hakodate | 0 | 3,000 | 10,000 | 28,825 | port town |
| Takada | 21,000 | 16,000 | 18,000 | 27,460 | castle town |
| Matsuyama | 23,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 26,141 | castle town |
| Tsuruoka | 15,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 24,964 | castle town |
| Yonezawa | 35,000 | 32,000 | 29,000 | 24,945 | castle town |
| Himeji | 21,000 | 22,000 | 24,000 | 24,521 | castle town |
| Hikone | 38,000 | 33,000 | 29,000 | 24,368 | castle town |
| Nagaoka | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 24,067 | castle town |
| Takaoka | 12,000 | 11,000 | 14,000 | 23,724 | market town |
| Yamada | 30,000 | 23,000 | 16,000 | 22,473 | Shintō holy town |
| Fushimi | 16,000 | 33,000 | 46,000 | 22,334 | riverside port town |
| Annōtsu | 12,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 22,080 | castle town |
| Saga | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 21,660 | castle town |
| Morioka | 17,000 | 27,000 | 30,000 | 21,306 | castle town |
| Nara | 35,000 | 35,000 | 27,000 | 21,158 | Buddhism holy town |
| Tottori | 32,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 | 20,782 | castle town |
| Wakamatsu | 27,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 | 20,588 | castle town |
| Kurume | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 20,381 | castle town |
| Kuwana | 22,000 | 19,000 | 16,000 | 18,064 | castle town |
| Ōtsu | 22,000 | 19,000 | 17,000 | 17,924 | lakefront port town |
| Yamagata | 25,000 | 23,000 | 21,000 | 17,631 | castle town |
| Kōfu | 26,000 | 24,000 | 22,000 | 15,529 | castle town |
| Tsuruga | 21,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 11,476 | castle town |
| Ōgaki | 22,000 | 20,000 | 18,000 | 10,158 | castle town |
Estimated populations of castle towns contain considerable errors compared to those of the business towns with fewer samurai-class inhabitants, because demographics of samurai classes and their servants were recorded separately or kept secret, which easily lead to the loss of original data after the abolition of the Han system. On the other hand, the demography of chōnin classes, or dwellers of chōnin districts plus chōnin classes who dwelt in temple/shrine districts, rather remain recorded for most of the cases.
Even the peak estimated population of Edo varies from 788,000 to 1,500,000. For example, Yoshida estimated the peak population of Edo at 1,400,000 based on the average amount of rice carried into Edo. Chandler estimated the peak population of Edo at 788,000 by adding samurai population as 3/8 of the recorded chōnin population. Sekiyama estimated the peak population of Edo at 1,100,000 by adding samurai and servants population as 500,000. Diaries recorded that the population of Edo was 1,287,800 in 1837, the population of monks and priests was ca. 40,000 or the samurai population of Edo was 700,973. According to the map of Edo illustrated in 1725, area for samurai occupied 66.4% of the total area of Edo, while areas for chōnin and temples-shrines occupied 12.5% and 15.4%, respectively.
| Urban | Year | Total areas | Imperial and nobiliary districts | Samurai districts | Chōnin districts | Temples and shrines districts | Other districts |
| Edo | ca. 1647 | 43.95 km2 | 34.06 km2 | 4.29 km2 | 4.50 km2 | 1.10 km2 | |
| Edo | 1670–1673 | 63.42 km2 | 43.66 km2 | 6.75 km2 | 7.90 km2 | 5.11 km2 | |
| Edo | 1725 | 69.93 km2 | 46.47 km2 | 8.72 km2 | 10.74 km2 | 4.00 km2 | |
| Edo | 1865 | 79.8 km2 | 50.7 km2 | 14.2 km2 | 10.1 km2 | 4.8 km2 | |
| Edo | 1869 | 56.36 km2 | 38.65 km2 | 8.92 km2 | 8.80 km2 | ||
| Kyōto | ca. 1647 | 20.87 km2 | 0.68 km2 | 1.05 km2 | 8.37 km2 | 2.92 km2 | 7.85 km2 |
| Ōsaka | ca. 1655 | 15.05 km2 | 3.36 km2 | 8.68 km2 | 1.18 km2 | 1.83 km2 | |
| Sendai | ca. 1647 | 10.37 km2 | 7.56 km2 | 1.15 km2 | 1.66 km2 | ||
| Nagoya | ca. 1660 | 9.20 km2 | 5.69 km2 | 2.18 km2 | 1.14 km2 | 0.19 km2 | |
| Kanazawa | ca. 1647 | 7.46 km2 | 4.91 km2 | 1.58 km2 | 0.79 km2 | 0.18 km2 |
Selected recorded populations of urbans listed above are as follows. Sources for koseki censuses are given in :jp:近代以前の日本の都市人口統計|Japanese Wikipedia page.
- Edo: 353,588 ; 501,394 ; 533,763 ; 509,708 ; 457,083 ; 492,449 ; 545,623 ; 587,458 ; 569,549 ; 584,166 ; 543,079 ; 674,447. Recorded populations of Yoshiwara girls, Buddhist monks in temples, Buddhist monks outside temples, Shintō priests in shrines, Buddhist nuns, Shintō priests outside shrines, the blind in 1743.
- Ōsaka: 279,610 ; 252,446 ; 364,154 ; 383,480 ; 404,146 ; 419,863 ; 379,121 ; 369,173 ; 330,637 ; 301,093 ; 281,306. Present town of Ōsaka began from a temple town of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, where 2,000 houses were reported in 1562. On the other hand, number of houses for Tennnōji, a temple town of Shitennō-ji, was described as 7,000 in 1499. Ōsaka and Tenōji were connected by a suburb town of Hirano: 10,851 ; 10,991 ; 9,272 ; 9,439 ; 8,142 ; 7,958, 7,948. Both Tennōji and Namba were suburb towns of Ōsaka with estimated populations of ca. 10,000 during Edo era. The history of Namba or Naniwa is much older; estimated population of Naniwa was 35,000 during Nara period.
- Kyōto: 410,089 ; 362,322 ; 408,723 ; 388,142, in 1683; 372,972 ; 374,449 ; 318,016 ; 237,674. The urban areas of Kyōto and Fushimi were connected by built-up area by 19th century.
- Nagoya: 54,932 ; 63,734 ; 55,665 ; 42,135 ; 73,583 ; 75,779 ; 73,963 ; 71,698.
- Kanazawa: 55,106 ; 68,636 ; 64,987 ; 56,355 ; 58,506 ; 60,789 ; 123,363.
- Kagoshima: 49,096 ; 59,816 ; 61,507 ; 76,998 ; 85,435. Population as of Jan 1, 1873 : only those living in chōnin districts.
- Hiroshima: 37,212 ; 48,351 ; 33,191 ; 29,247 ; 50,092.
- Yokohama: 88 houses in 1840.
- Wakayama: 42,314 ; 57,005.
- Sendai: 25,590 ; 26,623 ; 15,617 ; 17,798 ; 18,444.
- Tokushima: 18,826 ; 20,590.
- Hagi: 5,300 ; 12,260 ; 14,633 ; 10,791 ; 16,424.
- Shuri: 8,455 ; 16,210 ; 20,861.
- Toyama: 16,000 ; 23,903 ; 17,600 ; 20,000 ; 34,228 ; 26,936.
- Kumamoto: 12,841 ; 24,735 ; 19,939 ; 20,881 ; 18,470 ; 21,300.
- Hyōgo: 19,766 ; 21,030 ; 22,774 ; 20,853 ; 20,942 ; 21,861 ; 27,476. Kōbe: 1,391 ; 1,985 ; 2,637 ; 2,547 ; 8,554. Sudden increase in population began in 1869, when the Port of Kōbe was opened to foreigners, while the port of Hyōgo was already one of the important ports of Japan for domestic transport.
- Hakata: 17,948 ; 19,468 ; 17,842 ; 15,448 ; 14,619 ; 20,985. Fukuoka: 15,009 ; 13,675 ; 7,470 ; 20,650. Hakata was already an important port since 12th century. On the other hand, Fukuoka area was built as a new castle town of the Fukuoka domain in 1600, named after a place in Setouchi, Okayama where the Kuroda clans grew.
- Fukui: 25,331 ; 21,393 ; 20,533 ; 18,364 ; 32,613.
- Kōchi: 17,054 ; 21,351 ; 13,985 ; 15,895.
- Sakai: 69,368 ; 56,997 ; 47,928 ; 44,496 ; 40,977 ; 37,153. Sakai was an important port during Muromachi period. 10,000 houses in 1399.
- Kubota: 20,828 ; 21,313 ; 16,387 ; 16,990 ; 18,082 ; 46,677.
- Matsue: 28,564 ; 29,263 ; 31,161 ; 36,073.
- Niigata: 2,500 houses ; 20,800–20,900, 25,467.
- Hirosaki: 17,362 ; 31,200 ; 26,730 ; 36,036 ; 14,850 ; 38,848.
- Takamatsu: 12,943 ; 24,243 ; 30,195.
- Okayama: 28,669 ; 30,635 ; 24,556 ; 21,357 ; 20,086 ; 20,670.
- Sumpu: 17,067 ; 16,163 ; 15,724.
- Nagasaki: 24,693 ; 40,700 ; 53,522 ; 50,148 ; 41,553 ; 29,897, 31,893 ; 29,962 ; 27,343 ; 27,381.
- Hakodate: 2,595 ; 9,480 ; 18,609.
- Takada: 21,567 ; 17,429 ; 15,832 ; 18,383 ; 17,906 ; 19,060.
- Matsuyama: 16,604 ; 11,528 ; 11,598.
- Tsuruoka: 7,837 ; 10,951 ; 17,705 ; 8,406.
- Yonezawa: 6,207 ; 12,129 ; 11,481 ; 16,099 ; 6,667 ; 6,920 ; 6,943.
- Himeji: 22,125 ; 24,140 ; 21,526 ; 18,769 ; 14,725 ; 13,872.
- Hikone: 15,505 ; 15,675 ; 13,162.
- Nagaoka: 5,781.
- Takaoka: 13,085 ; 10,681 ; 15,582 ; 15,465 ; 12,037.
- Yamada: 23,622 ; 30,929 ; 39,621. Uji: 3,592.
- Fushimi: 25,249 ; 28,743 ; 27,450 ; 33,385 ; 40,980. The urban areas of Kyōto and Fushimi were connected by built-up area by 19th century.
- Annōtsu: 12,205 ; 12,261 ; 11,648 ; 11,262 ; 7,170.
- Saga: 31,450 ; 20,084.
- Morioka: 12,324 ; 14,209 ; 15,726 ; 17,941 ; 18,824 ; 17,966
- Nara: 34,985 ; 28,243 ; 35,369 ; 23,500 ; 22,538 ; 22,146 ; 20,081 ; 19,210 ; 20,661.
- Tottori: population of chōnin: 13,125 ; 10,228 ; 11,440.
- Wakamatsu: population of chōnin: 18,435 ; 20,700 ;16,700 ; 11,670.
- Kurume: population of chōnin: 8,764 ; 8,888 ; 7,631 ; 8,632 ; 11,208.
- Kuwana: population of chōnin: 12,520 ; 13,160 ; 11,902 ; 10,857 ; 8,527, 8,848.
- Ōtsu: population of chōnin: 18,774 ; 17,810 ; 17,568 ; 17,481 ; 16,072 ; 14,950 ; 14,892.
- Yamagata: population of chōnin: 13,981 ; 13,507 ; 17,508 ; 12,586 ; 15,214.
- Kōfu: population of chōnin: 12,772 ; 14,334 ; 13,539 ; 12,699 ; 13,306 ; 9,290 ; 9,566 ; 11,071.
- Tsuruga: population of chōnin: 15,101 ; 11,345 ; 13,568 ; 10,600 ; 11,506 ; 8,900 ; 12,296.
- Ōgaki: population of chōnin: 5,543 ; 5,343 ; 5,522 ; 5,097.
Books
- Takahashi, Bonsen, "Nihon jinkō-shi no kyū", Sanyūsha, Tokyo:Japan, 1941.
- Sekiyama, Naotarō, "Kinsei Nihon no jinkō no kōzō", Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, Tokyo:Japan, 1958.
- Hayami, Akira, ed., "Kokusei chōsa izen Nihon jinkō tōkei shūsei", Hara Shobō, Tokyo:Japan, 1992.