Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan
Japan: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 6.05 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
6.05
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
66th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.92
in 2003
All-time low
3.31
in 1951
Years of data
77
1947–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan, 1947–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan is 6.05, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan peaked at 6.92 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.31, in 1951.
Japan ranks 66th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 77 years of available data.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 3.86 | — |
| 1948 | 3.62 | -6.2% |
| 1949 | 3.48 | -3.9% |
| 1950 | 3.32 | -4.6% |
| 1951 | 3.31 | -0.3% |
| 1952 | 3.41 | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 3.53 | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 4.1 | +16.3% |
| 1955 | 4.15 | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 4.24 | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 4.35 | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 4.55 | +4.6% |
| 1959 | 4.67 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 4.84 | +3.6% |
| 1961 | 4.92 | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 4.94 | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 5.08 | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 5.13 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 5.17 | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 5.2 | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 5.2 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 5.24 | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 5.42 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 5.36 | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 5.35 | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 5.41 | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 5.27 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 5.11 | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 5.13 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 5.16 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 5.19 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 5.26 | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 5.33 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 5.38 | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 5.36 | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 5.46 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 5.59 | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 5.66 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 5.65 | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 5.71 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 5.78 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 5.74 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 5.83 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 5.92 | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 6.02 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 6.17 | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 6.18 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 6.31 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 6.36 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 6.46 | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 6.49 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 6.71 | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 6.75 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 6.84 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 6.83 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.86 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 6.92 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 6.89 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 6.91 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 6.78 | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 6.78 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 6.74 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 6.81 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 6.72 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 6.44 | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 6.45 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 6.38 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 6.31 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 6.24 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 6.17 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 6.2 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 6.09 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 6.06 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 6.15 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 6.09 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 6.03 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 6.05 | +0.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 6.05 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.98, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 6.05 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.65 | 3.48 | 3.86 | 3 |
| 1950s | 3.96 | 3.31 | 4.67 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.11 | 4.84 | 5.42 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.26 | 5.11 | 5.41 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.62 | 5.36 | 5.83 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.34 | 5.92 | 6.75 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.84 | 6.74 | 6.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.31 | 6.06 | 6.72 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.08 | 6.03 | 6.15 | 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 difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Japan was 6.05 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.92 in 2003.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.31 in 1951.
- How does Japan rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- Japan ranks 66th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. 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 Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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