The population of Tokyo will exceed 13 million in 2010.

The metropolitan government estimates the population of Japan's capital on December 1st last year stood at 12 million 993,000.

After rapid economic growth in the 1960's, Tokyo's population remained flat for about 30 years. But it began to increase again in 1996, and the trend has continued. Annual growth rate is now about 100,000.

One expert says that Tokyo's population will peak in 2020 and will begin to decline as the society ages.