In 2022, Japan registered 4.1 new marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, less than half of the ten marriages per one thousand in 1970. The marriage rate shifted back to a downward trend after a slight increase in 2019.

In 2023, Tokyo Prefecture registered 5.3 new marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, down from about 5.6 marriages in the previous year. The marriage rate did not exceed six marriages per 1,000 in 2020 for the first time in the last decade.

Approximately 474,740 new marriages were registered in Japan in 2023. The annual number of newly registered marriages decreased by around 96,000 in the last decade.

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Marriage Rate data was reported at 4.900 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.000 % for 2016. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Marriage Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.600 % from Dec 1947 (Median) to 2017, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.000 % in 1947 and a record low of 4.900 % in 2017. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Marriage Rate 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 registered 1.47 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022, marking three consecutive years of decline. The divorce rate shifted back to a downward trend after a slight increase in 2019.

Men and women in Japan are getting married increasingly later than previous generations. In 2023, the average age of women who marry for the first time was about 29.7 years, while men were on average 31.1 years old when they first got married. Social integration of women The rising age at first marriage was partly explained by a common theory that holds the growing number of “parasite singles” accountable for the trend. The term refers to young working people aged between 28 and 40 years who decide to keep living comfortably in their parents' homes to save money. An alternative explanation is the more active participation of Japanese women in society. Increasingly more women in Japan obtain higher education degrees and focus on their career paths. With a rising income, they are financially less dependent, and marriage is no longer essential to afford the life they pursue. Delayed family planningThe overall number of newly registered marriages has also declined in the past decade. The reported number of marriages was around 474,740 in 2023, representing the sixth consecutive years below 600,000. These developments concerning marriages have also impacted the mean age of childbearing, which has risen considerably since the 1970s.

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data was reported at 1.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.730 % for 2016. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.280 % from Dec 1947 (Median) to 2017, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.300 % in 2002 and a record low of 0.730 % in 1963. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate 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.

VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: Foreign Wife (FW) data was reported at 14,851.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 14,809.000 Person for 2015. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: Foreign Wife (FW) data is updated yearly, averaging 16,320.000 Person from Dec 1965 (Median) to 2016, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35,993.000 Person in 2006 and a record low of 1,067.000 Person in 1965. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: Foreign Wife (FW) 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.G010: Vital Statistics: Marriage.

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Marriage data was reported at 50,412.000 Person in Jul 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 41,508.000 Person for Jun 2018. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Marriage data is updated monthly, averaging 59,105.000 Person from Jan 1990 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 343 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93,809.000 Person in Nov 1999 and a record low of 31,916.000 Person in Aug 1990. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Marriage 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.

In 2023, Tokyo Prefecture registered 1.49 new divorces per 1,000 inhabitants, up from 1.43 divorces in the previous year. The divorce rate in the prefecture had shown a steady decrease until 2023.

VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Others data was reported at 2,012.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,829.000 Person for 2015. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Others data is updated yearly, averaging 1,212.500 Person from Dec 1965 (Median) to 2016, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,783.000 Person in 2004 and a record low of 211.000 Person in 1965. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Others 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.G010: Vital Statistics: Marriage.

VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FW: Philippines data was reported at 3,371.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,070.000 Person for 2015. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FW: Philippines data is updated yearly, averaging 6,394.000 Person from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,150.000 Person in 2006 and a record low of 3,000.000 Person in 2014. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FW: Philippines 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.G010: Vital Statistics: Marriage.

VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Brazil data was reported at 315.000 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 344.000 Person for 2015. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Brazil data is updated yearly, averaging 268.000 Person from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 344.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 146.000 Person in 1993. VS: Japanese Only: Marriage: International: FH: Brazil 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.G010: Vital Statistics: Marriage.

In 2022, Tokyo Prefecture was the prefecture with the highest number of marriage registrations in Japan with approximately 75.18 thousand registrations. Osaka Prefecture came in second with about 40.36 thousand registrations.

PERIOD: 1929-1938. NOTE: This table shows the numbers reported this year. SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].

Approximately 183,810 divorces were registered in Japan in 2023, down from around 222,110 divorces in 2014. The number of marriages in Japan also decreased considerably in the last decade.

【リソース】Volume 1_10-1_Trends in divorces by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_10-2_Trends in divorce rates (per 1,000 population) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_10-3_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by month of registration:Japan / Volume 1_10-4_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by legal type:Japan / Volume 1_10-5_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by duration of cohabitation, and mean duration of cohabitation:Japan / Volume 1_10-6_Trends in divorces by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered each year):Japan / Volume 1_10-7_Trends in divorce rates (per 1,000 population) by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered each year):Japan / Volume 1_10-8_Divorces and percent distribution by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan, 2011_(1) Divorces / Volume 1_10-8_Divorces and percent distribution by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan, 2011_(2) Percent distribution / Volume 1_10-9_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children involved in divorce:Japan_(1) Divorces / Volume 1_10-9_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children involved in divorce:Japan_(2) Percent distribution / Volume 1_10-10_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by wife and husband who have children involved in divorce:Japan / Volume 1_10-11_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children and custody of wife and husband:Japan / Volume 1_10-12_Divorces and percent distribution by duration of cohabitation, by type of occupation for household:Japan, 2010_(1) Divorces / Volume 1_10-12_Divorces and percent distribution by duration of cohabitation, by type of occupation for household:Japan, 2010_(2) Percent distribution / Volume 1_10-13_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by nationality of wife and husband : Japan / Volume 1_10-14_Divorces by nationality of wife and husband : Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 1_10-15_Percent distribution of divorces by nationality of wife and husband:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 2_1_Divorces by month of registration:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities / Volume 2_2_Divorces by month of registration by month and year cohabitation terminated:Japan / Volume 2_3_Divorces by single years of age of husband and wife (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan / Volume 2_4_Divorces by legal type:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities / Volume 2_5_Divorces by legal type, duration of marriage and type of occupation of household:Japan / Volume 2_6_Divorces by age of husband and wife and duration of marriage (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan / Volume 2_7_Divorces by number of children involved in divorce and number of children who are to be in wife's custody (all divorces and divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan / Volume 2_8_Divorces by duration of marriage and number of children involved in divorce (all divorces and divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan / Vital Statistics_Vital statistics of Japan_Final data_Divorces_Yearly_2011 / Volume 1_10-1_Trends in divorces by each prefecture:Japan,Volume 1_10-2_Trends in divorce rates (per 1,000 population) by each prefecture:Japan,Volume 1_10-3_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by month of registration:Japan,Volume 1_10-4_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by legal type:Japan,Volume 1_10-5_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by duration of cohabitation, and mean duration of cohabitation:Japan,Volume 1_10-6_Trends in divorces by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered each year):Japan,Volume 1_10-7_Trends in divorce rates (per 1,000 population) by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered each year):Japan,Volume 1_10-8_Divorces and percent distribution by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan, 2011_(1) Divorces,Volume 1_10-8_Divorces and percent distribution by age of wife and husband at time of decree (for divorces separated and registered in 2011):Japan, 2011_(2) Percent distribution,Volume 1_10-9_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children involved in divorce:Japan_(1) Divorces,Volume 1_10-9_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children involved in divorce:Japan_(2) Percent distribution,Volume 1_10-10_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by wife and husband who have children involved in divorce:Japan,Volume 1_10-11_Trends in divorces and percent distribution by number of children and custody of wife and husband:Japan,Volume 1_10-12_Divorces and percent distribution by duration of cohabitation, by type of occupation for household:Japan, 2010_(1) Divorces,Volume 1_10-12_

PERIOD: By type of marriage, 1921-1930. By region in 1930. By age class during 1915-1930 . SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].

In a survey conducted in June 2021, 86.2 percent of married women in Japan agreed with the statement, that one should have personal goals even after getting married. Meanwhile, 81.6 percent of the respondents disagreed with the view, that husbands should work and wives should take care of the home after marriage.

PERIOD: 1922-1931. SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].