Maternal mortality in Japan
Japan: Maternal mortality was 4.31 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.31
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
176th
of 189 countries
All-time high
260
in 1935
All-time low
4.25
in 2019
Years of data
74
1935–2020
Maternal mortality in Japan, 1935–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in Japan is 4.31, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in Japan peaked at 260 in 1935 and was at its lowest, 4.25, in 2019.
Japan ranks 176th of 189 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 260 | — |
| 1940 | 240 | -7.7% |
| 1947 | 168 | -30.0% |
| 1950 | 167.25 | -0.4% |
| 1951 | 164.1 | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 162 | -1.3% |
| 1953 | 171.61 | +5.9% |
| 1954 | 175.02 | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 170.21 | -2.7% |
| 1956 | 162.35 | -4.6% |
| 1957 | 162.61 | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 148.28 | -8.8% |
| 1959 | 140.24 | -5.4% |
| 1960 | 125.45 | -10.5% |
| 1961 | 116.51 | -7.1% |
| 1962 | 109.09 | -6.4% |
| 1963 | 99.95 | -8.4% |
| 1964 | 96.26 | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 85.39 | -11.3% |
| 1966 | 85.53 | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 69.06 | -19.2% |
| 1968 | 66.59 | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 57.42 | -13.8% |
| 1970 | 51.63 | -10.1% |
| 1971 | 43.94 | -14.9% |
| 1972 | 38.91 | -11.4% |
| 1973 | 36.67 | -5.8% |
| 1974 | 33.03 | -9.9% |
| 1975 | 27.69 | -16.2% |
| 1976 | 25.31 | -8.6% |
| 1977 | 22.74 | -10.2% |
| 1978 | 21.73 | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 22.43 | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 20.23 | -9.8% |
| 1981 | 19.26 | -4.8% |
| 1982 | 18.65 | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 15.79 | -15.3% |
| 1984 | 15.66 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 17.42 | +11.3% |
| 1986 | 14.57 | -16.4% |
| 1987 | 13.59 | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 13.36 | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 13.24 | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 12.95 | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 12.02 | -7.2% |
| 1992 | 11.68 | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 11.23 | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 10.27 | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 10.93 | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 10.13 | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 9.96 | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 9.68 | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 9.27 | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 8.53 | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 8.17 | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 7.73 | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 7.58 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 7.32 | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 7.18 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.57 | -8.5% |
| 2007 | 6.17 | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 6.01 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 5.88 | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 5.66 | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 5.49 | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 5.3 | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 5.14 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 5.1 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.85 | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 4.87 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 5.06 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 5.19 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 4.25 | -18.2% |
| 2020 | 4.31 | +1.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 4.31 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 57% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Japan's 4.31 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08, 7% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 260 | 260 | 260 | 1 |
| 1940s | 204 | 168 | 240 | 2 |
| 1950s | 162.37 | 140.24 | 175.02 | 10 |
| 1960s | 91.12 | 57.42 | 125.45 | 10 |
| 1970s | 32.41 | 21.73 | 51.63 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.18 | 13.24 | 20.23 | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.81 | 9.27 | 12.95 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.11 | 5.88 | 8.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.09 | 4.25 | 5.66 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.31 | 4.31 | 4.31 | 1 |
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 in Japan?
- Maternal mortality in Japan was 4.31 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 260 in 1935.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.25 in 2019.
- How does Japan rank for maternal mortality?
- Japan ranks 176th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. 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 Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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