Birth rates and death rates in Japan
Japan: Birth rates and death rates was 12.26 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
12.26
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
22nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
12.92
in 2022
All-time low
6.02
in 1979
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, birth rates and death rates in Japan stood at 12.26.
The figure is down 5.2% on the previous year and up 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in Japan peaked at 12.92 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.02, in 1979.
Japan ranks 22nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.91 | — |
| 1951 | 9.96 | -8.7% |
| 1952 | 8.99 | -9.8% |
| 1953 | 8.96 | -0.2% |
| 1954 | 8.27 | -7.8% |
| 1955 | 7.86 | -4.9% |
| 1956 | 8.13 | +3.4% |
| 1957 | 8.37 | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 7.57 | -9.5% |
| 1959 | 7.55 | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 7.68 | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 7.5 | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 7.57 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 7.07 | -6.6% |
| 1964 | 7.03 | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 7.24 | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 6.82 | -5.8% |
| 1967 | 6.85 | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 6.86 | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 6.85 | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 6.97 | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 6.62 | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 6.54 | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 6.64 | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 6.55 | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 6.38 | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 6.31 | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 6.13 | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 6.13 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 6.02 | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 6.27 | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 6.22 | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 6.12 | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 6.35 | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 6.33 | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.4 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 6.36 | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 6.3 | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 6.6 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 6.51 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 6.73 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 6.74 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 6.99 | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 7.18 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 7.17 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 7.55 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 7.32 | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 7.45 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 7.63 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 8 | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 7.83 | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 7.87 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 7.96 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 8.22 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 8.32 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 8.78 | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 8.81 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 8.97 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 9.23 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 9.22 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 9.64 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 10.09 | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 10.14 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 10.24 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 10.3 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 10.44 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 10.61 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 10.89 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 11.11 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 11.3 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 11.27 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 11.82 | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 12.92 | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 12.26 | -5.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 12.26 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.37, 1.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 12.26 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.87, 1.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.66 | 7.55 | 10.91 | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.15 | 6.82 | 7.68 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.43 | 6.02 | 6.97 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.35 | 6.12 | 6.6 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.28 | 6.73 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.52 | 7.83 | 9.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.48 | 9.64 | 11.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.07 | 11.27 | 12.92 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More health data for Japan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 178 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0155 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0163 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in Japan?
- Birth rates and death rates in Japan was 12.26 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.92 in 2022.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.02 in 1979.
- How does Japan rank for birth rates and death rates?
- Japan ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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