In our series of original reports on real estate in Osaka we share some basic population statistics for Osaka City (and foreigners living in Osaka), and in this post we supply some data about which countries have the largest populations of foreigners living in Osaka.
Foreigners in Osaka City
Osaka, like most cities in a Japan, is mostly a homogenous city; at more than 93%, the vast majority of the residents are Japanese. As of 2023, foreigners make up a little more than 6% of the population of Osaka City. While there are a lot of foreigners living in Osaka City, they are still a relatively small minority.
With that said, as we show in our article about the yearly totals of foreigners living in Osaka, the population of foreigners in Osaka has increased significantly. The Osaka City story is primarily about the Japanese, but foreigners are becoming a bigger part of that population.
What Countries Do the Foreigners Living in Osaka Come From?
Of the foreigners living in Osaka City, the largest populations are from other neighboring Asian countries. Koreans are the largest group of foreigners in Osaka (but that is changing), then Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, and Nepalese. Western, white faces in Osaka are more rare. From Western countries, only the Americans appear in the top 10 countries of origin.
For the percentages of foreigners by country living in Osaka, see our list below.
Population of Foreigners in Osaka City, by Country
While we cover the total number of foreigners in Osaka in a different post, here we show from which countries those foreigners are coming from, and the percentages of international residents in Osaka by country.
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This table presents data for Osaka City’s foreign residents (not the overall population). For more complete data, see our report on the Osaka City population stats.
Osaka City’s International Population by Year
As seen in our report of foreigners living in Osaka by year, we show that the percentage of foreigners in Osaka is increasing year over year. In the period leading up to 2020, the annual percentage increase of foreigners living in Osaka City was 3% – 6% (depending on the year). After the Covid era, the percentage of the foreign-born population in Osaka City increased at a rate of 10% in 2022 and then again by another 11% 2023.
Koreans Living in Osaka City
The largest foreign-born population living in Osaka City is the Koreans. Looking back as far as 2003, there were 91,541 Koreans (3.5% of the total population) living in Osaka City. The neighborhood of Ikuno-ku, Osaka has long been known as the “Korea Town” of Osaka.
Today, while Koreans are still the largest group of foreigners in Osaka City, that population has been declining. In 2020, there were 62,568 Koreans (2.3% of the total population) living in Osaka. By 2023, the population of Koreans in Osaka City had declined to 58,081 (2.1%).
Overall, people from Korea living in Osaka are declining (that is true across the Japan). In their place, the Chinese are becoming the dominant group of foreigners in Osaka City.
Chinese People Living in Osaka City
The Chinese have a strong presence in Japan, and in Osaka City as well. The Chinese come to Osaka for school, for business, and in large numbers as tourists. Neighborhoods like Chuo-ku’s Shinsaibashi are flooded with tourists from China and other parts of the world.
When we look at the list of the largest foreign populations in Osaka, the Chinese are currently the second largest, but their numbers are growing quickly. In 2003, there were approximately 19,159 Chinese (0.7% of the total population) living in Osaka. As of 2020, the number of Chinese people living in Osaka City had increased to 42,005 (1.5% of the total population). As of 2023, there are 50,671 (1.8%) Chinese in Osaka.
Current trends suggests that the Chinese will grow to be the largest population of foreigners in Osaka (surpassing the Koreans) by 2026/2027.
Westerners and Europeans in Osaka
It is not unusual to see white and Western faces in Osaka, but Westerners are a small percentage of the foreigners in Osaka City.
If we look at the top 10 countries from which foreigners come to live in Osaka City, America is the only Western country in that group.
Looking at the historic trends for the foreign population in Osaka City, the population of Americans living in Osaka is relatively stable. In 2003, there were 1,134 Americans in Osaka City. Looking at more recent data for 2020 and 2023, the totals for people from the United States in Osaka City were 1,602 and 1,739 respectively.
Vietnamese in Osaka City, and Other Asian Populations
As stated earlier, most foreigners visiting or residing in Osaka City are from other neighboring Asian countries. While the Koreans and the Chinese have a larger impact on the city of Osaka, the Vietnamese are a large and growing population; there were 25,073 Vietnamese (just under 1% of the total population) in Osaka in 2023. Other large Asian populations in Osaka City are the Filipinos, the Nepalese, and Indonesians.
Osaka City Real Estate and Foreign Buyers
While doing business in Osaka can be challenging if you don’t speak Japanese, there are opportunities to find help for real estate and other professional services in your native language, including English.
In our client work, we often make introductions to real estate professionals in Osaka that speak English (and other languages). We have helped many foreigners find an apartment in Osaka or to buy a home in Osaka. We can also make referrals to Osaka immigration lawyers and tax accountants in Osaka City.
We make a lot of referrals. Contact us, we’re happy to help, and our services are always free to you.
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We provide person-to-person introductions to prescreened agents that help you sell, buy, lease, or rent property in Osaka. We search our custom database to connect you to real estate professionals that speak your language, address your needs and are available now to help you find what you want.
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For More Information:
— International Schools in Osaka
— Coliving in Osaka
— Property Taxes in Osaka
See Also:
Foreigners Living in Sapporo by Country