Yakuza membership fell to record low in 2025
Japan’s organized criminal group ranks fell to a record low in 2025, marking the 21st consecutive annual decline, according to recent data released by the National Police Agency, amid a shift in the criminal landscape that has seen the rise of loosely organized tokuryū anonymous and transient crime groups.The number of yakuza members and associates nationwide stood at 17,600 at the end of 2025, down 1,200 from a year earlier. Full-fledged members totaled 9,400, also the lowest level on record.The figures underscore a dramatic shift from the late 2000s, when membership exceeded 80,000. Authorities have attributed the decline to an aging population within these criminal groups, tighter enforcement and the nationwide rollout of anti-gang ordinances that restrict businesses and individuals from engaging with organized crime.
