Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan
Japan: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths was 651 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
651 deaths
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
108th
of 199 countries
All-time high
17,429 deaths
in 1969
All-time low
634 deaths
in 2023
Years of data
56
1969–2024
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan, 1969–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan is 651 deaths, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan peaked at 17,429 deaths in 1969 and was at its lowest, 634 deaths, in 2023.
That places Japan 108th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 17,429 deaths | — |
| 1970 | 16,968 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 16,942 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 16,529 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 16,124 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 14,970 deaths | -7.2% |
| 1975 | 13,329 deaths | -11.0% |
| 1976 | 12,036 deaths | -9.7% |
| 1977 | 10,843 deaths | -9.9% |
| 1978 | 9,906 deaths | -8.6% |
| 1979 | 8,906 deaths | -10.1% |
| 1980 | 7,887 deaths | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 7,000 deaths | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 6,369 deaths | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 5,856 deaths | -8.1% |
| 1984 | 5,335 deaths | -8.9% |
| 1985 | 4,726 deaths | -11.4% |
| 1986 | 4,213 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1987 | 3,817 deaths | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 3,493 deaths | -8.5% |
| 1989 | 3,180 deaths | -9.0% |
| 1990 | 2,999 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 2,926 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 2,827 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 2,709 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 2,705 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 2,539 deaths | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 2,464 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 2,349 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 2,270 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 2,155 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 2,104 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 2,020 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 1,936 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 1,816 deaths | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 1,687 deaths | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 1,528 deaths | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 1,472 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 1,410 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 1,348 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 1,258 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 1,190 deaths | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 1,120 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 1,064 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 1,014 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 953 deaths | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 916 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 868 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 823 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 786 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 734 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 704 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 674 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 655 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 634 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 651 deaths | +2.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 651 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 155 deaths, 4.2× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's 651 deaths is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 366.5 deaths, 1.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17,429 deaths | 17,429 deaths | 17,429 deaths | 1 |
| 1970s | 13,655 deaths | 8,906 deaths | 16,968 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,188 deaths | 3,180 deaths | 7,887 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,594 deaths | 2,155 deaths | 2,999 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,658 deaths | 1,258 deaths | 2,104 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 946.8 deaths | 734 deaths | 1,190 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 663.6 deaths | 634 deaths | 704 deaths | 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)
- 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 number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan?
- Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Japan was 651 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 17,429 deaths in 1969.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 634 deaths in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths?
- Japan ranks 108th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days .