In 2023, malignant neoplasms were the leading cause of death among the female population in Japan at around 162,325 deaths. This number accounted for 20.7 percent of the death cases of women during that year. Senility followed with a share of 18.8 percent.

In 2022, the number of fatalities in Japan caused by ******************* amounted to approximately ***** thousand, making cancerous tumors the most common cause of death in Japan. In that year, the total number of deaths in Japan reached around **** million cases. Age-related health issues are increasing in Japan Japan has one of the healthiest populations, with one of the highest average life expectancies worldwide. However, paired with a declining fertility rate, this leads to a demographic shift in the country. Accordingly, the aging population is facing more age-related health issues while the overall number of deaths keeps rising. The aging of the population also causes further issues such as labor shortages in several industries, including the healthcare sector, as well as an increasing number of patients in need of long-term care and support. The demographic development will evoke pressure on governmental spending but also bring opportunities for service providers and related industries. Cancer remains the leading cause of death Next to malignant neoplasms, several other types of cancer, such as stomach, pancreas, and colon cancer, rank among the leading causes of death in Japan. Even though the overall estimated number of cancer cases has been growing in Japan, the survival chances have been increasing significantly over the past decade.One of the reasons for the higher survival chances is the rising awareness around the topic, which leads Japanese people to use prevention measures such as cancer screening. Furthermore, there have been advances in the field of medical treatments and medication for cancer. Accordingly, oncology drugs were the pharmaceuticals with the highest production value recently.

In 2024, malignant neoplasms were the leading cause of death among the male population in Japan at around ******* cases. This number accounted for approximately **** percent of the death cases of men recorded during that year. Heart diseases, excluding hypertensive heart diseases, followed with a share of around **** percent. Malignant neoplasmsIn recent years, malignant neoplasms have been the leading cause of death for both female and male populations in Japan. The most frequent cause of cancerous tumor related deaths has continued to be lung cancer for both men and women. As smoking and passive smoking are some of the main causes of lung cancer, the health ministry in Japan set the goal of reducing the smoking rate of adults. To minimize the risk of passive smoking, the government amended the Health Promotion Act and prohibited smoking in public facilities, offices, most restaurants, and public areas starting from April 2020. SuicideOne of the leading causes of death specific to men in Japan was suicide. In the last decade, the number of suicides committed by men in Japan remained roughly double the number of those committed by women. While close to half of the suicides in Japan were committed due to health reasons in previous years, the number of suicides owning to work-related problems has also become a serious social issue in the current Japanese society. One of the reasons behind it is said to be the working condition of employees in Japan with a severe workload. The government has been aiming to reduce working hours and overtime to improve the working conditions of workers in Japan.

In 2023, the number of maternal deaths in Japan amounted to 23. Between 1985 and 2023, the figure dropped by 237, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

In 2024, malignant neoplasms were the leading cause of death among the male population in Japan at around 221,786 cases. This number accounted for approximately 27.1 percent of the death cases of men recorded during that year. Heart diseases, excluding hypertensive heart diseases, followed with a share of around 13.6 percent. Malignant neoplasmsIn recent years, malignant neoplasms have been the leading cause of death for both female and male populations in Japan. The most frequent cause of cancerous tumor related deaths has continued to be lung cancer for both men and women. As smoking and passive smoking are some of the main causes of lung cancer, the health ministry in Japan set the goal of reducing the smoking rate of adults. To minimize the risk of passive smoking, the government amended the Health Promotion Act and prohibited smoking in public facilities, offices, most restaurants, and public areas starting from April 2020. SuicideOne of the leading causes of death specific to men in Japan was suicide. In the last decade, the number of suicides committed by men in Japan remained roughly double the number of those committed by women. While close to half of the suicides in Japan were committed due to health reasons in previous years, the number of suicides owning to work-related problems has also become a serious social issue in the current Japanese society. One of the reasons behind it is said to be the working condition of employees in Japan with a severe workload. The government has been aiming to reduce working hours and overtime to improve the working conditions of workers in Japan.

In 2024, the number of deaths from influenza in Japan increased to 2,857 cases. This marked an increase compared to just 1383 cases in the previous year.

In 2022, the number of fatalities in Japan caused by malignant neoplasms amounted to approximately 385.8 thousand, making cancerous tumors the most common cause of death in Japan. In that year, the total number of deaths in Japan reached around 1.57 million cases. Age-related health issues are increasing in Japan Japan has one of the healthiest populations, with one of the highest average life expectancies worldwide. However, paired with a declining fertility rate, this leads to a demographic shift in the country. Accordingly, the aging population is facing more age-related health issues while the overall number of deaths keeps rising. The aging of the population also causes further issues such as labor shortages in several industries, including the healthcare sector, as well as an increasing number of patients in need of long-term care and support. The demographic development will evoke pressure on governmental spending but also bring opportunities for service providers and related industries. Cancer remains the leading cause of death Next to malignant neoplasms, several other types of cancer, such as stomach, pancreas, and colon cancer, rank among the leading causes of death in Japan. Even though the overall estimated number of cancer cases has been growing in Japan, the survival chances have been increasing significantly over the past decade.One of the reasons for the higher survival chances is the rising awareness around the topic, which leads Japanese people to use prevention measures such as cancer screening. Furthermore, there have been advances in the field of medical treatments and medication for cancer. Accordingly, oncology drugs were the pharmaceuticals with the highest production value recently.

In 2023, malignant neoplasms were the leading cause of death among the female population in Japan at around 162,325 deaths. This number accounted for 20.7 percent of the death cases of women during that year. Senility followed with a share of 18.8 percent.

【リソース】Volume 1_5-1_Trends in deaths, death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex and sex ratio:Japan / / Volume 1_5-2_Trends in crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex:Japan / Volume 1_5-3_International comparison of crude death rates and age-standardized death rates (per 100,000 population), 2008 / Volume 1_5-4_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 1,000 population) by month:Japan / Volume 1_5-5_Trends in deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-6_Trends in percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-7_Deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 1_5-8_Percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 1_5-9_Trends in deaths by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-10_Trends in death rates (per 1,000 population) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-11_Trends in leading causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-12_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-13_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan / Volume 1_5-14_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-15_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-16_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-17_Leading causes of death by sex and age:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-18_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan) by month:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-19_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 1_5-20_Leading causes of death:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities, 2011 / Volume 1_5-21_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex and place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-22_Deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex, age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-23_Deaths and percent distribution by causes (the selected list of causes of death for Japan) and type of occupation of household:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-24_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-25_Trends in death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex, age and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-26_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-27_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from cerebrovascular diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-28_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from heart diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-29_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes(the list of infectious diseases):Japan / Volume 1_5-30_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-31_Deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-32_Percent distribution of deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-33_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from transportation accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-34_Deaths and percent distribution from nontransportation accidents by age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-35_Deaths and percent distribution from accidents at home by age and external causes:Japan, 2011 / Volume 1_5-36_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from suicide by sex and external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-37_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-38_Trends in late maternal deaths and late maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-39_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 2_1_Deaths, infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) and early neonatal deaths (under 1 week), by place of occurrence, for urban/rural residence:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities / Volume 2_2_Deaths by sex and month of occurrence:Japan, urban/rural residence, each prefecture and 20 major cities / Volume 2_3_Deaths by sex and age:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Japan, each prefecture and 20 major cities_(1) Total,0-64years / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Ja

In 2023, the crude mortality rate for cancer in Japan accounted for a record-high of 315.6 per 100,000 people. The rate has been showing a persistent upward trajectory since 1995. Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Japan for 41 consecutive years since 1981.

This statistic presents the results of a survey on perceived leading causes of death through interpersonal violence in Japan as of 2018. According to data published by Ipsos, Japanese respondents overestimated the number of violent deaths caused by knives. Around ** percent of respondents thought that most people killed through interpersonal violence died from knife attacks, when the actual share of stabbing victims was around ** percent of all violent deaths in Japan.

【リソース】Volume 1_5-1_Trends in deaths, death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex and sex ratio:Japan / Volume 1_5-2_Trends in crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex:Japan / Volume 1_5-4_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 1,000 population) by month:Japan / Volume 1_5-5_Trends in deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-6_Trends in percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-7_Deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2018 / Volume 1_5-8_Percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2018 / Volume 1_5-9_Trends in deaths by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-10_Trends in death rates (per 1,000 population) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-11_Trends in leading causes of death:Japan (Death rates (per 100,000 population)) / Volume 1_5-12_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-13_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan / Volume 1_5-14_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-15_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-16_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-17_Leading causes of death by sex and age:Japan, 2018 (deaths, death rates (per 100,000 population), proportion(%)) / Volume 1_5-18_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan) by month:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-19_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2018 / Volume 1_5-20_Leading causes of death:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2018 / Volume 1_5-21_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex and place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-22_Deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex, age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-23_Deaths and percent distribution by causes (the selected list of causes of death for Japan) and type of occupation of household:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-24_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-25_Trends in death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex, age and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-26_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-27_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from cerebrovascular diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-28_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from heart diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-29_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the list of infectious diseases):Japan / Volume 1_5-30_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-31_Deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-32_Percent distribution of deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-33_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from transportation accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-34_Deaths and percent distribution from nontransportation accidents by age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-35_Deaths and percent distribution from accidents at home by age and external causes:Japan, 2018 / Volume 1_5-36_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from suicide by sex and external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-37_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-38_Trends in late maternal deaths and late maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-39_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 2_1_Deaths, infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) and early neonatal deaths (under 1 week), by place of occurrence, for urban/rural residence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_2_Deaths by sex and month of occurrence:Japan, urban/rural residence, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_3_Deaths by sex and age:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities_(1) Total,0-64years / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Japan, each prefecture and 21

In 2022, approximately 190.5 men per 100,000 population died from heart diseases in Japan, an increase from around 149.5 men per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013. Heart diseases, excluding hypertensive heart diseases, were the leading cause of death among the male population in the country in 2022 after malignant neoplasms.

In 2022, around 191.3 women per 100,000 population died from heart diseases, excluding hypertensive heart diseases, in Japan, an increase from around 163.2 women per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013. Heart diseases were the leading cause of death among the female population in the country in 2022 after malignant neoplasms.

PERIOD: 1938. SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].

Identifying the cause of death is important for the study of end-of-life patients using claims data in Japan. However, the validity of how cause of death is identified using claims data remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the validity of the method used to identify the cause of death based on Japanese claims data. Our study population included patients who died at two institutions between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019. Claims data consisted of medical data and Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) data, and five definitions developed from disease classification in each dataset were compared with death certificates. Nine causes of death, including cancer, were included in the study. The definition with the highest positive predictive values (PPVs) and sensitivities in this study was the combination of “main disease” in both medical and DPC data. For cancer, these definitions had PPVs and sensitivities of > 90%. For heart disease, these definitions had PPVs of > 50% and sensitivities of > 70%. For cerebrovascular disease, these definitions had PPVs of > 80% and sensitivities of> 70%. For other causes of death, PPVs and sensitivities were < 50% for most definitions. Based on these results, we recommend definitions with a combination of “main disease” in both medical and DPC data for cancer and cerebrovascular disease. However, a clear argument cannot be made for other causes of death because of the small sample size. Therefore, the results of this study can be used with confidence for cancer and cerebrovascular disease but should be used with caution for other causes of death.

The total number of deaths caused by pneumonia in Japan amounted to approximately 75.75 thousand cases in 2023, continuing a general downward trend since 2014. Pneumonia is one of the main causes of death in Japan.

In 2022, the average life expectancy of women in Japan was approximately 87.1 years, whereas the life expectancy of men reached around 81.1 years. The average life expectancy of both men and women in Japan indicated a decrease for two consecutive years. Aging workforce Japan has one of the highest proportions of senior citizens worldwide, with almost 30 percent of the country’s population aged 65 years and older. The growing average life expectancy and declining fertility rates led to this demographic shift. To secure the nation's workforce despite the aging population, the Japanese government amended the Act on Stabilization of Employment of Elderly Persons in 2021 and requested Japanese enterprises to raise the retirement age to 70 for employees who wish to continue working after turning 60 or 65. Causes of death The leading causes of death in Japan are malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. Lung cancer is the most mortal cancer site among Japanese men and women, but its mortality risk has declined from the 1990s onward. This development can be partially attributed to the downward trend in tobacco consumption. Since peaking in the 1970s, tobacco consumption in Japan has steadily declined, noticeable from the continuous decrease in the cigarette industry’s annual sales volume growth. Apart from a growing awareness regarding health risks, this downward movement can be explained by a tightening of prefectural no-smoking policies in the streets, many restaurants, and public places in general.

In 2023, congenital deformities and chromosomal abnormalities became the most common cause for infant death among girls in Japan, accounting for **** percent of all cases. Around **** percent of infant girls in Japan died due to respiratory and cardiovascular disorders during the perinatal period. Overall, *** infant deaths in girls were recorded in Japan in that year.

In 2022, ***** fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants in Tokyo Prefecture were caused by malignant neoplasms. Heart diseases were the second most common cause of death among residents in the prefecture.