Infant mortality (Our World) in Japan
Japan: Infant mortality (Our World) was 0.1817 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.1817
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
196th
of 199 countries
All-time high
6.24
in 1949
All-time low
0.1769
in 2021
Years of data
76
1949–2024
Infant mortality in Japan, 1949–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality in Japan is 0.1817, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in Japan peaked at 6.24 in 1949 and was at its lowest, 0.1769, in 2021.
That places Japan 196th out of 199 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.
Infant mortality (Our World) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 6.24 | — |
| 1950 | 5.79 | -7.2% |
| 1951 | 5.37 | -7.2% |
| 1952 | 4.99 | -7.0% |
| 1953 | 4.66 | -6.6% |
| 1954 | 4.38 | -6.1% |
| 1955 | 4.13 | -5.6% |
| 1956 | 3.92 | -5.2% |
| 1957 | 3.71 | -5.1% |
| 1958 | 3.51 | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 3.28 | -6.4% |
| 1960 | 3.04 | -7.3% |
| 1961 | 2.79 | -8.2% |
| 1962 | 2.54 | -8.9% |
| 1963 | 2.31 | -9.2% |
| 1964 | 2.1 | -9.2% |
| 1965 | 1.91 | -8.8% |
| 1966 | 1.75 | -8.2% |
| 1967 | 1.62 | -7.5% |
| 1968 | 1.51 | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 1.42 | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 1.34 | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 1.26 | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 1.19 | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 1.13 | -5.6% |
| 1974 | 1.06 | -5.7% |
| 1975 | 0.9997 | -5.9% |
| 1976 | 0.9403 | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 0.884 | -6.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8316 | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 0.7834 | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 0.738 | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 0.6953 | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 0.6549 | -5.8% |
| 1983 | 0.6168 | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5812 | -5.8% |
| 1985 | 0.5492 | -5.5% |
| 1986 | 0.5215 | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 0.4986 | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 0.4808 | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 0.4678 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 0.4584 | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 0.4511 | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 0.4443 | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 0.436 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 0.4252 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 0.4117 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 0.3958 | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 0.3783 | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 0.3606 | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 0.3435 | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 0.3277 | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 0.3138 | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 0.3017 | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 0.2914 | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 0.2825 | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 0.2744 | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 0.2665 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 0.2588 | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 0.2517 | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 0.245 | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 0.2382 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 0.2332 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 0.2232 | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 0.2155 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 0.2083 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 0.2016 | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 0.1958 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.1906 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 0.1858 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 0.1815 | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1783 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.1769 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1771 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.1789 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 0.1817 | +1.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.1817 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3612, 50% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.1817 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.39, 13% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6.24 | 6.24 | 6.24 | 1 |
| 1950s | 4.37 | 3.28 | 5.79 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 1.42 | 3.04 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.04 | 0.7834 | 1.34 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5804 | 0.4678 | 0.738 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4105 | 0.3435 | 0.4584 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2814 | 0.245 | 0.3277 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2074 | 0.1815 | 0.2382 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1786 | 0.1769 | 0.1817 | 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)
- 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 infant mortality in Japan?
- Infant mortality in Japan was 0.1817 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.24 in 1949.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1769 in 2021.
- How does Japan rank for infant mortality?
- Japan ranks 196th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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