Child mortality in Japan
Japan: Child mortality was 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.2434 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
194th
of 203 countries
All-time high
36.33 deaths per 100 live births
in 1800
All-time low
0.2381 deaths per 100 live births
in 2022
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Child mortality in Japan, 1800–2024
Source: Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in Japan is 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in Japan peaked at 36.33 deaths per 100 live births in 1800 and was at its lowest, 0.2381 deaths per 100 live births, in 2022.
That places Japan 194th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality in Japan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1801 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 36.22 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1867 | 36.22 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 36.22 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 36.1 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1870 | 36.1 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 36.1 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 35.98 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1873 | 35.98 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 35.86 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1875 | 35.86 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 35.86 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 35.74 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1878 | 35.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 35.63 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1880 | 35.63 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 35.51 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1882 | 35.4 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1883 | 35.4 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 35.28 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1885 | 35.28 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 35.17 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1887 | 35.05 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1888 | 35.05 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 34.94 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1890 | 34.82 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1891 | 34.71 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1892 | 34.71 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 34.59 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1894 | 34.48 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1895 | 34.36 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1896 | 34.24 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1897 | 34.12 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 33.99 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1899 | 33.86 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1900 | 33.73 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1901 | 33.58 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1902 | 33.44 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1903 | 33.17 deaths per 100 live births | -0.8% |
| 1904 | 33.02 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1905 | 32.86 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1906 | 32.59 deaths per 100 live births | -0.8% |
| 1907 | 32.42 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1908 | 32.13 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1909 | 31.96 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1910 | 31.67 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1911 | 31.17 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1912 | 30.68 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1913 | 30.19 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1914 | 29.71 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1915 | 29.24 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1916 | 28.78 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1917 | 28.33 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1918 | 27.88 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1919 | 27.44 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1920 | 27 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1921 | 28.6 deaths per 100 live births | +5.9% |
| 1922 | 27 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1923 | 26.52 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1924 | 25.32 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1925 | 22.78 deaths per 100 live births | -10.1% |
| 1926 | 21.85 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1927 | 22.78 deaths per 100 live births | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 22.03 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1929 | 22.78 deaths per 100 live births | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 19.6 deaths per 100 live births | -14.0% |
| 1931 | 20.91 deaths per 100 live births | +6.7% |
| 1932 | 18.28 deaths per 100 live births | -12.6% |
| 1933 | 19.03 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 1934 | 19.59 deaths per 100 live births | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 16.22 deaths per 100 live births | -17.2% |
| 1936 | 18.09 deaths per 100 live births | +11.5% |
| 1937 | 16.03 deaths per 100 live births | -11.4% |
| 1938 | 17.71 deaths per 100 live births | +10.5% |
| 1939 | 16.21 deaths per 100 live births | -8.4% |
| 1940 | 13.11 deaths per 100 live births | -19.1% |
| 1941 | 12.05 deaths per 100 live births | -8.0% |
| 1942 | 12.4 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 1943 | 12.58 deaths per 100 live births | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 13.09 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 13.62 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 1946 | 14.17 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1947 | 14.74 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 1948 | 9.91 deaths per 100 live births | -32.8% |
| 1949 | 10.14 deaths per 100 live births | +2.3% |
| 1950 | 9.15 deaths per 100 live births | -9.8% |
| 1951 | 8.27 deaths per 100 live births | -9.6% |
| 1952 | 7.49 deaths per 100 live births | -9.4% |
| 1953 | 6.83 deaths per 100 live births | -8.9% |
| 1954 | 6.27 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 1955 | 5.8 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 1956 | 5.4 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1957 | 5.03 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1958 | 4.68 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1959 | 4.33 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 1960 | 3.98 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 1961 | 3.63 deaths per 100 live births | -8.9% |
| 1962 | 3.29 deaths per 100 live births | -9.3% |
| 1963 | 2.97 deaths per 100 live births | -9.5% |
| 1964 | 2.7 deaths per 100 live births | -9.3% |
| 1965 | 2.46 deaths per 100 live births | -8.8% |
| 1966 | 2.26 deaths per 100 live births | -8.1% |
| 1967 | 2.1 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 1.96 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 1969 | 1.85 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 1.75 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1971 | 1.65 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1973 | 1.49 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 1.41 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 1.33 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 1.25 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1977 | 1.18 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 1978 | 1.11 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1979 | 1.05 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 0.9896 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 0.9344 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 0.8824 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1983 | 0.8335 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 0.788 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 0.7474 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 0.7122 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 0.6832 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 0.6607 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 0.6441 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 0.6322 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 0.6227 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 0.6137 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 0.6024 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 0.5874 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 0.5687 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 0.5463 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 0.5219 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 0.4969 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 0.4726 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 0.45 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 0.4127 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 0.3981 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 0.3855 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 0.3744 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3638 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 0.3537 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 0.3445 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 0.3358 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3269 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 0.3278 deaths per 100 live births | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.3066 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 0.2959 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 0.2856 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 0.276 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.2673 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 0.2521 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.2456 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 0.2407 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.2382 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2381 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.2401 deaths per 100 live births | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births | +1.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4653 deaths per 100 live births, 52% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.71 deaths per 100 live births, 14% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | -32.8% | 14.74 deaths per 100 live births | 9.91 deaths per 100 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1810s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1820s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1830s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1840s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1850s | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1860s | 36.27 deaths per 100 live births | 36.1 deaths per 100 live births | 36.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1870s | 35.89 deaths per 100 live births | 35.63 deaths per 100 live births | 36.1 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 35.27 deaths per 100 live births | 34.94 deaths per 100 live births | 35.63 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 34.39 deaths per 100 live births | 33.86 deaths per 100 live births | 34.82 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 32.89 deaths per 100 live births | 31.96 deaths per 100 live births | 33.73 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 29.51 deaths per 100 live births | 27.44 deaths per 100 live births | 31.67 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 24.67 deaths per 100 live births | 21.85 deaths per 100 live births | 28.6 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 18.17 deaths per 100 live births | 16.03 deaths per 100 live births | 20.91 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.58 deaths per 100 live births | 9.91 deaths per 100 live births | 14.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.32 deaths per 100 live births | 4.33 deaths per 100 live births | 9.15 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.72 deaths per 100 live births | 1.85 deaths per 100 live births | 3.98 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.38 deaths per 100 live births | 1.05 deaths per 100 live births | 1.75 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7876 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6441 deaths per 100 live births | 0.9896 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5665 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4726 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6322 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3848 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3358 deaths per 100 live births | 0.45 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2843 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2456 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3278 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2401 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2381 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 191 Andorra 0.2507 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 192 Latvia 0.2501 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 193 Norway 0.2487 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 195 Sweden 0.2406 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 196 Montenegro 0.2383 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 197 Finland 0.2352 deaths per 100 live births compare
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 child mortality in Japan?
- Child mortality in Japan was 0.2434 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.33 deaths per 100 live births in 1800.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2381 deaths per 100 live births in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for child mortality?
- Japan ranks 194th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of newborns who die before reaching the age of five.