10 most populous nations that don’t have birthright citizenship: list
8. Japan
Home to the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world, Japan has a population of more than 122 million and does not grant automatic citizenship to those born in its territory.
According to the Statelessness Encyclopedia Asia Pacific report on Japan, last updated in 2024, “Japan’s citizenship laws operate through a jus sanguinis structure.”
“According to Japan’s Nationality Law, children born to a Japanese national parent shall be considered a Japanese national, with no distinction between children born within or outside of the national boundaries,” SEAP noted.
“Under Japanese law, a child born to a Japanese mother and a foreign father will become a citizen due to the fact that Japanese law establishes the relationship of the mother and child automatically at birth. However, for children born to Japanese fathers and a foreign mother, an acknowledgement is required from the citizen father.”
