Number of child deaths by age in Japan
Japan: Number of child deaths by age was 500 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
500 deaths
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
82nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
34,974 deaths
in 1955
All-time low
500 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
70
1955–2024
Number of child deaths by age in Japan, 1955–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of child deaths by age in Japan is 500 deaths, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 38.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by age in Japan peaked at 34,974 deaths in 1955 and was at its lowest, 500 deaths, in 2024.
That places Japan 82nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 age in Japan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 34,974 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 29,204 deaths | -16.5% |
| 1957 | 24,783 deaths | -15.1% |
| 1958 | 21,157 deaths | -14.6% |
| 1959 | 18,286 deaths | -13.6% |
| 1960 | 16,002 deaths | -12.5% |
| 1961 | 14,046 deaths | -12.2% |
| 1962 | 12,450 deaths | -11.4% |
| 1963 | 11,096 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1964 | 9,980 deaths | -10.1% |
| 1965 | 9,179 deaths | -8.0% |
| 1966 | 8,689 deaths | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 8,150 deaths | -6.2% |
| 1968 | 7,760 deaths | -4.8% |
| 1969 | 7,619 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 7,391 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 7,345 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 7,307 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 7,130 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 7,020 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 6,863 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 6,546 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 6,079 deaths | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 5,535 deaths | -8.9% |
| 1979 | 4,996 deaths | -9.7% |
| 1980 | 4,534 deaths | -9.2% |
| 1981 | 4,140 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 3,786 deaths | -8.6% |
| 1983 | 3,472 deaths | -8.3% |
| 1984 | 3,200 deaths | -7.8% |
| 1985 | 2,983 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 2,806 deaths | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 2,648 deaths | -5.6% |
| 1988 | 2,505 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1989 | 2,374 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 2,257 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 2,154 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 2,067 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 1,988 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 1,913 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 1,849 deaths | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 1,776 deaths | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 1,694 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 1,615 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1,532 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 1,452 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 1,383 deaths | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 1,320 deaths | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 1,264 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 1,211 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 1,160 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 1,106 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 1,058 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 1,022 deaths | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 992 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 967 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 1,027 deaths | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 899 deaths | -12.5% |
| 2013 | 857 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 814 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 770 deaths | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 730 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 691 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 654 deaths | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 618 deaths | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 584 deaths | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 555 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 532 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 515 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 500 deaths | -2.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 500 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 43 deaths, 11.6× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's 500 deaths is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 139 deaths, 3.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25,681 deaths | 18,286 deaths | 34,974 deaths | 5 |
| 1960s | 10,497 deaths | 7,619 deaths | 16,002 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,621 deaths | 4,996 deaths | 7,391 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,245 deaths | 2,374 deaths | 4,534 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,884 deaths | 1,532 deaths | 2,257 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,197 deaths | 992 deaths | 1,452 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 802.7 deaths | 618 deaths | 1,027 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 537.2 deaths | 500 deaths | 584 deaths | 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 age in Japan?
- Number of child deaths by age in Japan was 500 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths by age recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 34,974 deaths in 1955.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by age recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 500 deaths in 2024.
- How does Japan rank for number of child deaths by age?
- Japan ranks 82nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by age rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged between 1 and 4 .