Translation guide
The reduction in the number of people in a place, often due to migration, low birth rates, or economic decline. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with specific nouns and verbs, and the context (rural vs. urban, temporary vs. permanent) influences word choice.
To describe a decrease in population, often in rural or declining areas.
The most common term for depopulation, especially in rural areas. It implies a long-term trend and is often used in social and economic contexts.
This village is experiencing depopulation.
過疎化対策として、移住者を募集している。
As a measure against depopulation, they are recruiting new residents.
Literally 'population decrease'. A more neutral, statistical term that can be used for any scale, from a small town to a whole country.
日本の人口減少は深刻な問題だ。
Japan's population decline is a serious problem.
A casual, everyday way to say 'the number of people decreases'. Not a formal term, but very natural in conversation.
最近、この辺りは人が減ったね。
Recently, the number of people around here has decreased, hasn't it?
To refer to depopulation as a social issue or demographic trend.
The noun form meaning 'depopulation' or 'underpopulation'. Often used in compounds like 過疎地域 (depopulated area).
過疎に悩む地域が多い。
Many regions suffer from depopulation.
Abbreviation of 人口減少, often used in news headlines or reports.
人口減が続く地方都市
regional cities where population decline continues
To express the process of an area losing its population.
The verb form of 過疎化. Used to describe an area undergoing depopulation.
その町は急速に過疎化した。
That town rapidly became depopulated.
A straightforward way to say 'the population decreases'. More common in everyday speech than 過疎化する.
この地域は人口が減り続けている。
The population of this area continues to decline.
To describe a place that has suffered from depopulation.
Official term for a depopulated area, often used in government and media contexts.
過疎地域では医療サービスが不足している。
In depopulated areas, medical services are insufficient.
A depopulated village. 過疎 can modify nouns directly.
過疎の村に移住する若者が増えている。
More young people are moving to depopulated villages.
過疎化 (depopulation) often carries a nuance of rural decline and social problems, while 人口減少 (population decrease) is a neutral, statistical term. Use 過疎化 when emphasizing the negative impact on a community, and 人口減少 for factual statements about numbers.
The English word 'depopulation' is not always directly translated. In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often use simpler phrases like 人が減る (people decrease) rather than the formal 過疎化.