The fertility rate of a country is the average number of children that women from that country will have throughout their reproductive years. From 1800 until 1865, Japan's fertility rate grew quite gradually, from 4.1 children per woman, to 4.8. From this point the fertility rate drops to 3.6 over the next ten years, as Japan became more industrialized. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Japan's fertility rate grew again, and reached it's highest recorded point in the early 1920s, where it was 5.4 children per woman. Since this point it has been gradually decreasing until now, although it did experience slight increases after the Second World War, and in the early 1970s. In recent decades Japan's population has aged extensively, and today, Japan has the second oldest population and second highest life expectancy in the world (after Monaco). In contrast to this, Japan has a very low birth rate, and it's fertility rate is expected to fall below 1.4 children per woman in 2020.

In Japan, the crude birth rate in 1800 was 29.6 live births per thousand people, meaning that approximately three percent of the population had been born in that year. From 1800 to 1865, Japan's crude birth rate rose gradually to around 34 births per thousand people, before dropping relatively sharply to 25 over the next ten years. This was a time of great social and economic reform in Japan, as the country became increasingly urbanized and industrialized. Japan's crude birth rate reached it's highest recorded point in the early 1920s, where the number was almost 35 births per thousand people, and since then it has been decreasing gradually. There were two times in the twentieth century where Japan's crude birth rate increased, after the Second World War, and during the period of economic prosperity in the 1960s and 70s. Since 1975, Japan's crude birth rate has gradually decreased to it's lowest recorded rate ever, and is expected to be at just 7.5 births per thousand people in 2020, making it the second lowest in the world (behind Monaco).

Historical dataset showing Japan birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In 2023, there were around *** live births per 1,000 inhabitants in Japan, down from about *** in the previous year. The total number of live births in the nation amounted to approximately ******* in 2023. Japan’s super aging society Directly after the end of WWII, the live birth rate in Japan was over ** per 1,000 of population. The rate has constantly dropped in the last decades after the second baby boom (between 1971 and 1974). Meanwhile, the life expectancy of the Japanese people has increased, reaching about **** years for women and **** years for men in 2022. Due to the combination of both factors, Japan has developed into one of the most rapidly aging societies in the world. Almost ** percent of Japan’s population is currently aged 65 years and older, falling into the “super-aged nation” defined by international institutions and organizations.  Decreasing number of marriages In Japan, the number of births outside of marriage is small. The Japanese government, therefore, considers the decreasing number of marriages as the driving factor behind the country’s fertility decline. As of 2023, the number of marriages per 1,000 Japanese citizens was ***, less than half compared to that in the early *****. The average age of first marriage has also risen for both men and women. This trend can be partially attributed to the increasing number of employed and therefore financially and socially independent women in the past two decades. The employment rate of women in Japan exceeded ** percent for the first time in history in ****.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in Japan was reported at 6 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Japan: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from 2023 is 6 births per 1000 people, a decline from 6.3 births per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 17.86 births per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1960 to 2023 is 11.85 births per 1000 people. The minimum value, 6 births per 1000 people, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 19.4 births per 1000 people was recorded in 1967.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in Japan was reported at 1.2 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

For most of the past two centuries, falling birth rates have been associated with societal progress. During the demographic transition, where pre-industrial societies modernize in terms of fertility and mortality, falling death rates, especially among infants and children, are the first major change. In response, as more children survive into adulthood, women have fewer children as the need to compensate for child mortality declines. This transition has happened at different times across the world and is an ongoing process, with early industrial countries being the first to transition, and Sub-Saharan African countries being the most recent to do so. Additionally, some Asian countries (particularly China through government policy) have gone through their demographic transitions at a much faster pace than those deemed more developed. Today, in countries such as Japan, Italy, and Germany, birth rates have fallen well below death rates; this is no longer considered a positive demographic trend, as it leads to natural population decline, and may create an over-aged population that could place a burden on healthcare systems.

Japan JP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 7.800 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.000 Ratio for 2015. Japan JP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 10.800 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.400 Ratio in 1973 and a record low of 7.800 Ratio in 2016. Japan JP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Live Births Rate: Per 1000 Person data was reported at 7.600 % in Jul 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.400 % for Jun 2018. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Live Births Rate: Per 1000 Person data is updated monthly, averaging 8.900 % from Jan 1990 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 343 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.400 % in Sep 1994 and a record low of 7.100 % in Mar 2018. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Live Births Rate: Per 1000 Person data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G005: Vital Statistics.

Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: High Birth Rate data was reported at 93,221.209 Person th in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 94,013.370 Person th for 2064. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: High Birth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 112,351.766 Person th from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2065, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127,094.745 Person th in 2015 and a record low of 93,221.209 Person th in 2065. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: High Birth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G004: Population: Projection: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

Historical dataset showing Japan fertility rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low Mortality: High Birth Rate data was reported at 96,570.605 Person th in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 97,346.029 Person th for 2064. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low Mortality: High Birth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 115,105.879 Person th from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2065, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127,094.745 Person th in 2015 and a record low of 96,570.605 Person th in 2065. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low Mortality: High Birth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G004: Population: Projection: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: Low Birth Rate data was reported at 80,461.179 Person th in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 81,572.000 Person th for 2064. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: Low Birth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 106,945.285 Person th from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2065, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127,094.745 Person th in 2015 and a record low of 80,461.179 Person th in 2065. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: High Mortality: Low Birth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G004: Population: Projection: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

Time series data for the statistic Birth_Rate_Crude_Per_1000_People and country Japan. Indicator Definition:Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.The statistic "Birth Rate Crude Per 1000 People" stands at 6.00 per mille as of 12/31/2023, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.3 percentage points compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percentage points is -0.3.The 3 year change in percentage points is -0.8.The 5 year change in percentage points is -1.40.The 10 year change in percentage points is -2.20.The Serie's long term average value is 11.85 per mille. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 5.85 percentage points lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +0.0.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1967, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -13.40.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in Japan amounted to six. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 11.2, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) in Japan was reported at 1.737 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 196 countries was 18.19 births per 1000 people. The highest value was in the Central African Republic: 45.42 births per 1000 people and the lowest value was in Hong Kong: 4.4 births per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Japan JP: Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data was reported at 1.300 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.290 Person for 2020. Japan JP: Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.375 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.530 Person in 1991 and a record low of 1.270 Person in 2005. Japan JP: Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: OECD Member: Annual.

This bar chart displays birth rate (per 1,000 people) by countries yearly using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Japan. The data is about countries per year.