The estimated number of foreign nationals who are illegally overstaying in Japan continued to decrease after a peak at 298,646 on May 1, 1993 to 193,745 as of January 1, 2006 (decreased by 6.5% compared to the same date of the previous year). By nationality, those from South Korea had the largest share at 20.8%, followed by those from China at 16.0% and the Philippines at 15.9% (Source: The Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice).