Which has higher life expectancy, Japan or OECD (AHDI)?

Japan, at 84.69 years against 80.67 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and OECD (AHDI)?

24 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.

Where does this data come from?

Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Life expectancy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Japan vs OECD (AHDI): Life expectancy

Japan

84.69 years

in 2020

OECD (AHDI)

80.67 years

in 2020

Japan rank

2nd

OECD (AHDI) rank

1st

Life expectancy over time

Japan
OECD (AHDI)

How they compare

Japan currently reports 84.69 years against 80.67 years in OECD (AHDI), a difference of 4.02 years.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 24 shared years of data; in 1870 it was OECD (AHDI) ahead.

Japan ranks 2nd and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.

Across the 15 decades both report, Japan averaged higher in 6 and OECD (AHDI) in 9.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Japan	OECD (AHDI)	Difference	Ahead
1870s	36.6 years	38.23 years	1.63 years	OECD (AHDI)
1880s	37.42 years	39.5 years	2.08 years	OECD (AHDI)
1890s	37.68 years	42.41 years	4.74 years	OECD (AHDI)
1900s	38.6 years	45.33 years	6.73 years	OECD (AHDI)
1910s	40.44 years	49.86 years	9.43 years	OECD (AHDI)
1920s	44.16 years	54.94 years	10.78 years	OECD (AHDI)
1930s	47.63 years	58.26 years	10.64 years	OECD (AHDI)
1950s	62.47 years	67.28 years	4.81 years	OECD (AHDI)
1960s	68.97 years	70.14 years	1.17 years	OECD (AHDI)
1970s	73.18 years	72.17 years	1.01 years	Japan
1980s	76.97 years	74.88 years	2.09 years	Japan
1990s	79.33 years	76.85 years	2.48 years	Japan
2000s	81.59 years	78.92 years	2.67 years	Japan
2010s	83.41 years	80.78 years	2.63 years	Japan
2020s	84.69 years	80.67 years	4.02 years	Japan

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher life expectancy, Japan or OECD (AHDI)?: Japan, at 84.69 years against 80.67 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.
What is the difference in life expectancy between Japan and OECD (AHDI)?: 4.02 years, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and OECD (AHDI)?: 24 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Japan and OECD (AHDI) rank globally for life expectancy?: Japan ranks 2nd and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Life expectancy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Japan vs OECD (AHDI): Life expectancy. Statizoid, drawing on Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/life-expectancy-prados-de-la-escosura/japan/oecd-ahdi/

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About this data

Indicator: Life expectancy
Unit: years
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 163 places, 3,421 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Average number of years a newborn would live if age-specific mortality rates in the current year were to stay the same throughout its life.