Difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan
Japan: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 6.05 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
6.05
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
60th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.91
in 2003
All-time low
3.1
in 1951
Years of data
77
1947–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan, 1947–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan is 6.05, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan peaked at 6.91 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.1, in 1951.
That places Japan 60th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 77 years of available data.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 3.77 | — |
| 1948 | 3.34 | -11.4% |
| 1949 | 3.32 | -0.6% |
| 1950 | 3.17 | -4.4% |
| 1951 | 3.1 | -2.3% |
| 1952 | 3.17 | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 3.29 | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 3.87 | +17.7% |
| 1955 | 3.85 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 3.9 | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 4 | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 4.17 | +4.4% |
| 1959 | 4.22 | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 4.4 | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 4.42 | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 4.53 | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 4.64 | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 4.71 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 4.74 | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 4.83 | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 4.83 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 4.87 | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 5.07 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 5.01 | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 5.06 | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 5.09 | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 4.96 | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 4.85 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 4.87 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 4.93 | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 4.99 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 5.04 | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 5.13 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 5.19 | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 5.19 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 5.3 | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 5.46 | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 5.53 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 5.54 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 5.59 | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 5.67 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 5.65 | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 5.75 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 5.82 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 5.96 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 6.06 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 6.12 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 6.2 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 6.28 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 6.39 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 6.45 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 6.66 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 6.69 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 6.78 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 6.78 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.83 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 6.91 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.84 | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 6.86 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 6.74 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.75 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6.71 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 6.77 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 6.69 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 6.45 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 6.43 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 6.35 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 6.28 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 6.22 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 6.18 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 6.18 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 6.09 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.06 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 6.14 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 6.08 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 6.02 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 6.05 | +0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 6.05 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.91, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 6.05 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.7, 1.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.48 | 3.32 | 3.77 | 3 |
| 1950s | 3.67 | 3.1 | 4.22 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.7 | 4.4 | 5.07 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.99 | 4.85 | 5.13 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.49 | 5.19 | 5.75 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.26 | 5.82 | 6.69 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8 | 6.71 | 6.91 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.29 | 6.06 | 6.69 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.07 | 6.02 | 6.14 | 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 male and female life expectancy in Japan?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in Japan was 6.05 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.91 in 2003.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1 in 1951.
- How does Japan rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- Japan ranks 60th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. 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 Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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