Infant mortality rate in Japan
Japan: Infant mortality rate was 0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2%
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
231st
of 236 countries
All-time high
5.6%
in 1950
All-time low
0.2%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rate in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of infants.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rate in Japan stood at 0.2%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and down 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Japan peaked at 5.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2023.
That places Japan 231st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rate in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of infants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.6% | — |
| 1951 | 5.4% | -4.4% |
| 1952 | 4.8% | -11.2% |
| 1953 | 4.7% | -1.6% |
| 1954 | 4.3% | -7.3% |
| 1955 | 3.9% | -10.1% |
| 1956 | 4.0% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 3.8% | -3.2% |
| 1958 | 3.5% | -7.8% |
| 1959 | 3.3% | -7.0% |
| 1960 | 3.1% | -7.0% |
| 1961 | 2.8% | -6.9% |
| 1962 | 2.6% | -7.1% |
| 1963 | 2.3% | -11.9% |
| 1964 | 2.1% | -10.4% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | -7.3% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -13.0% |
| 1967 | 1.7% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 1.5% | -8.9% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | -7.7% |
| 1970 | 1.3% | -4.9% |
| 1971 | 1.3% | -5.3% |
| 1972 | 1.2% | -7.8% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -6.3% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | -6.3% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | -6.3% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | -9.1% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -6.3% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -3.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 37% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 13% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.3% | 3.3% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 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)
- 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 infant mortality rate in Japan?
- Infant mortality rate in Japan was 0.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for infant mortality rate?
- Japan ranks 231st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.