Abstract
This paper briefly introduces the method and results of Regional Population Projections for Japan: 2010–2040 published in March 2013 by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. We demonstrate that a population projection using the cohort component method maintains reasonably high accuracy, at least for the near future. For the results of the projection by 2025, population declines in municipalities in nonmetropolitan areas will accelerate, and rapid population aging in the suburbs around metropolitan areas will be unavoidable. We emphasize that because deaths will increase in metropolitan areas after population aging, populations in metropolitan areas will decline following the declines in nonmetropolitan areas.
