Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Japan
Japan: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 3 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Japan, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Japan is 3, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 40.0% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Japan peaked at 19 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2023.
That places Japan 182nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 19 | — |
| 1986 | 18 | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 17 | -5.6% |
| 1988 | 16 | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 15 | -6.2% |
| 1990 | 14 | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 13 | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 12 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 10 | -9.1% |
| 1998 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 9 | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2008 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2021 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | -40.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8, 38% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 82, 4% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17 | 15 | 19 | 5 |
| 1990s | 11.4 | 9 | 14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.2 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 | 3 | 5 | 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 maternal mortality ratio in Japan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Japan was 3 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 19 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Japan ranks 182nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP measured using purchasing power parities (PPPs).