Collective data of Japan's birth-related statistics from 1899 to 2022. Some data are missing between the years 1944 and 1946 due to records lost during World War II.

For use case and analysis reference, please take a look at this notebook Japan Birth Demographics Analysis

Feature Descriptions

• year: The year.
• birth_total: The total number of births.
• birth_male: The total number of male births.
• birth_female: The total number of female births.
• birth_rate: The birth rate. Equation is birth_total / population_total * 1,000
• birth_gender_ratio: The birth gender ratio. Equation is birth_male / birth_female * 1,000
• total_fertility_rate: The average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime.
• population_total: The total population.
• population_male: The total male population.
• population_female: The total female population.
• infant_death_total: The total infant deaths.
• infant_death_male: The total male infant deaths.
• infant_death_female: The total female infant deaths.
• infant_death_unknown_gender: The total unknown gender infant deaths.
• infant_death_rate: The infant death rate. Equation is infant_death_total / birth_total * 1,000
• infant_death_gender_ratio: The infant death gender ratio. Equation is infant_death_male / infant_death_female * 1,000
• infant_deaths_in_total_deaths: The infant death ratio among other deaths.
• stillbirth_total: The total number of stillbirths (dead born).
• stillbirth_male: The total number of male stillbirths.
• stillbirth_female: The total number of female stillbirths.
• stillbirth_unknown_gender: The total number of unknown gender stillbirths.
• stillbirth_rate: The stillbirth rate. Equation is stillbirth_total / (birth_total + stillbirth_total) * 1,000
• stillbirth_gender_ratio: The stillbirth gender ratio. Equation is stillbirth_male / stillbirth_female * 1,000
• firstborn: The number of firstborns.
• secondborn: The number of secondborns.
• thirdborn: The number of thirdborns.
• forthborn: The number of forthborns.
• fifthborn_and_above: The number of fifthborns and above.
• weeks_under_28: The number of births occurred under week 28. Early terms.
• weeks_28-31: The number of births occurred between weeks 28 and 31. Early terms.
• weeks_32-36: The number of births occurred between weeks 32 and 36. Early terms.
• weeks_37-41: The number of births occurred between weeks 37 and 41. Full terms.
• weeks_over_42: The number of births occurred over week 42. Late terms.
• mother_age_avg: The mother's average age.
• mother_age_firstborn: The mother's average age of the firstborn.
• mother_age_secondborn: The mother's average age of the secondborn.
• mother_age_thirdborn: The mother's average age of the thirdborn.
• mother_age_under_19: The number of births by mothers under age 19.
• mother_age_20-24: The number of births by mothers between age 20 and 24.
• mother_age_25-29: The number of births by mothers between age 25 and 29.
• mother_age_30-34: The number of births by mothers between age 30 and 34.
• mother_age_35-39: The number of births by mothers between age 35 and 39.
• mother_age_40-44: The number of births by mothers between age 40 and 44.
• mother_age_over_45: The number of births by mothers over 45.
• father_age_avg: The father's average age.
• father_age_firstborn: The father's average age of the firstborn.
• father_age_secondborn: The father's average age of the secondborn.
• father_age_thirdborn: The father's average age of the thirdborn.
• legitimate_child: The Number of births under married parents.
• illegitimate_child: The number of births under non-married parents.

Acknowledgement

E-Stat Demographic Survey

Graph and download economic data for Fertility Rate, Total for Japan (SPDYNTFRTINJPN) from 1960 to 2023 about fertility, Japan, and rate.

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).

In 2024, 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 2024. 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 2024, the number of marriages per 1,000 Japanese citizens was ****, less than half compared to that in the early 1970s. 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 ****.

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

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.

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.

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.

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;

Actual value and historical data chart for Japan Birth Rate Crude Per 1 000 People

Actual value and historical data chart for Japan Fertility Rate Total Births Per Woman

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.

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.

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.

Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low Mortality: Low Birth Rate data was reported at 83,781.534 Person th in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 84,877.121 Person th for 2064. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low Mortality: Low Birth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 109,693.156 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 83,781.534 Person th in 2065. Japan IPSS: Population: Projection: Low 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.

In 2024, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Okinawa Prefecture amounted to ****, the highest among the 47 prefectures of Japan. By comparison, Tokyo Prefecture recorded the lowest fertility rate of ****. That year, the overall total fertility rate in the country stood at ****.

Japan: Fertility rate, births per woman: The latest value from 2023 is 1.2 births per woman, a decline from 1.26 births per woman in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 2.41 births per woman, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1960 to 2023 is 1.63 births per woman. The minimum value, 1.2 births per woman, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 2.23 births per woman was recorded in 1967.

In 2023, the total fertility rate in children per woman in Japan stood at 1.2. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 0.8, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

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.