Key Facts
• July 4, 2025: Tokyo Stock Exchange and three others release shareholder distribution data.
• Individual shareholders in 2024: 83.59 million, up 9.14 million from the previous year.
• 11 consecutive years of growth, accounting for 98.0% of total shareholders.
• Total shareholders: 85.31 million, a record high, up 9.22 million year-on-year.
• Total stockholding value: ¥948 trillion, a 6.0% decrease due to market volatility.
• New NISA tax-exempt investment scheme contributed to the shift from savings to investments.
• Corporate stockholding ratio: 18.7%, a record low, with holdings down 8.7% to ¥177 trillion.
• Foreign corporate stockholding ratio: 32.4%, a record high, despite a 4.3% drop in value.
• Individual stockholding ratio: 17.3%, up 0.4 points, with holdings down 3.6% to ¥164 trillion.
• Sector trends: Banking, textiles, and pharmaceuticals saw increased foreign ownership; shipping and energy sectors declined.
Summary
In 2024, individual shareholders in Japan reached a record 83.59 million, marking 11 years of consecutive growth and comprising 98.0% of all shareholders. The total shareholder count also hit a record 85.31 million, despite a 6.0% drop in total stockholding value to ¥948 trillion, attributed to market volatility. The new NISA tax-exempt investment scheme played a key role in driving the shift from savings to investments. Corporate stockholding ratios fell to a record low of 18.7%, while foreign corporate ownership rose to a record high of 32.4%. Individual stockholding ratios also increased to 17.3%, with notable sectoral shifts in ownership trends. Despite these gains, the pace of new account openings has slowed, indicating a plateau in expanding the investor base.
