Number of child deaths by region in Japan
Japan: Number of child deaths by region was 1,863 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1,863
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
97th
of 195 countries
All-time high
66,943
in 1960
All-time low
1,863
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Number of child deaths by region in Japan, 1960–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number of child deaths by region in Japan stood at 1,863. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 36.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by region in Japan peaked at 66,943 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1,863, in 2024.
Japan ranks 97th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of child deaths by region in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 66,943 | — |
| 1961 | 60,046 | -10.3% |
| 1962 | 54,271 | -9.6% |
| 1963 | 49,767 | -8.3% |
| 1964 | 46,194 | -7.2% |
| 1965 | 43,818 | -5.1% |
| 1966 | 37,914 | -13.5% |
| 1967 | 36,223 | -4.5% |
| 1968 | 37,122 | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 34,664 | -6.6% |
| 1970 | 33,123 | -4.4% |
| 1971 | 32,623 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 32,223 | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 31,364 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 29,819 | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 27,258 | -8.6% |
| 1976 | 24,580 | -9.8% |
| 1977 | 22,215 | -9.6% |
| 1978 | 20,169 | -9.2% |
| 1979 | 18,354 | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 16,592 | -9.6% |
| 1981 | 14,978 | -9.7% |
| 1982 | 13,668 | -8.7% |
| 1983 | 12,645 | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 11,728 | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 10,789 | -8.0% |
| 1986 | 9,909 | -8.2% |
| 1987 | 9,216 | -7.0% |
| 1988 | 8,662 | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 8,135 | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 7,706 | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 7,475 | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 7,306 | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 7,082 | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 6,941 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 6,738 | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 6,451 | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 6,185 | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 5,909 | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 5,618 | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 5,351 | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 5,111 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 4,855 | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 4,615 | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 4,399 | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 4,175 | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 4,003 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 3,891 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 3,775 | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 3,648 | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 3,521 | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 3,499 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 3,227 | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 3,076 | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 2,918 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 2,779 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 2,650 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 2,506 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 2,370 | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 2,228 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 2,104 | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 2,014 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,945 | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 1,888 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 1,863 | -1.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1,863 is above the median for high income countries, which is 258, 7.2× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1,863 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 775.5, 2.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46,696 | 34,664 | 66,943 | 10 |
| 1970s | 27,173 | 18,354 | 33,123 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,632 | 8,135 | 16,592 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,741 | 5,618 | 7,706 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,382 | 3,648 | 5,351 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,877 | 2,228 | 3,521 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,963 | 1,863 | 2,104 | 5 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths by region in Japan?
- Number of child deaths by region in Japan was 1,863 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths by region recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 66,943 in 1960.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by region recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,863 in 2024.
- How does Japan rank for number of child deaths by region?
- Japan ranks 97th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by region rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The estimated number of children under five years old who die each year.