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Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and Japan

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has an annual birth rate of 9.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 6 for Japan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.47 in Belgium and 1.2 in Japan — 18.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.1% in Belgium and by 40% in Japan — in 1960, it was 2.54 and 2, respectively.

  • Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate compared to 192/196 for Japan.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.5 years in Belgium, compared to 30.7 years in Japan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3 in Belgium — it's 32.2 in Japan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.67 in Belgium vs 1.74 in Japan.
  • In Belgium, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 18.6% in Japan.

Fertility rate in Belgium vs Japan by year

Belgium
Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Japan
2023 1.47 1.2
2022 1.53 1.26
2021 1.6 1.3
2020 1.55 1.33
2019 1.6 1.36
2018 1.62 1.42
2017 1.65 1.43
2016 1.68 1.44
2015 1.7 1.45
2014 1.74 1.42
2013 1.76 1.43
2012 1.8 1.41
2011 1.81 1.39
2010 1.86 1.39
2009 1.84 1.37
2008 1.85 1.37
2007 1.82 1.34
2006 1.8 1.32
2005 1.76 1.26
2004 1.72 1.29
2003 1.67 1.29
2002 1.65 1.32
2001 1.67 1.33
2000 1.67 1.36
1999 1.62 1.34
1998 1.6 1.38
1997 1.6 1.39
1996 1.59 1.43
1995 1.56 1.42
1994 1.56 1.5
1993 1.61 1.46
1992 1.65 1.5
1991 1.66 1.53
1990 1.62 1.54
1989 1.58 1.57
1988 1.57 1.66
1987 1.54 1.69
1986 1.54 1.72
1985 1.51 1.76
1984 1.54 1.81
1983 1.57 1.8
1982 1.61 1.77
1981 1.66 1.74
1980 1.68 1.75
1979 1.69 1.77
1978 1.69 1.79
1977 1.71 1.8
1976 1.73 1.85
1975 1.74 1.91
1974 1.83 2.05
1973 1.95 2.14
1972 2.09 2.14
1971 2.21 2.16
1970 2.25 2.13
1969 2.27 2.13
1968 2.31 2.13
1967 2.41 2.23
1966 2.52 1.58
1965 2.61 2.14
1964 2.71 2.05
1963 2.68 2
1962 2.59 1.98
1961 2.63 1.96
1960 2.54 2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.2 in Japan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs Japan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Belgium
Japan
1x
Year Natural population change
Belgium Japan
2023 0 -871,617
2022 -2,336 -825,825
2021 5,793 -640,976
2020 -12,692 -542,923
2019 8,042 -531,858
2018 7,999 -456,520
2017 10,238 -406,310
2016 14,731 -343,106
2015 11,274 -292,424
2014 21,297 -267,279
2013 16,739 -242,146
2012 18,882 -229,733
2011 25,388 -204,533
2010 23,970 -128,070
2009 23,752 -76,828
2008 22,491 -51,225
2007 23,376 -25,600
2006 21,096 12,785
2005 15,718 -25,554
2004 16,673 76,656
2003 7,263 114,946
2002 7,233 178,423
2001 11,315 203,438
2000 12,302 228,317
1999 9,203 202,610
1998 9,183 265,440
1997 12,218 277,325
1996 12,188 314,392
1995 11,150 276,039
1994 12,139 363,017
1993 14,118 312,073
1992 20,090 360,833
1991 22,010 396,685
1990 19,935 407,478
1989 13,912 467,662
1988 14,853 527,085
1987 11,844 598,138
1986 5,917 631,706
1985 2,958 676,687
1984 4,927 756,523
1983 2,956 775,495
1982 7,885 805,664
1981 11,831 811,861
1980 10,845 864,372
1979 11,818 950,298
1978 7,872 1,011,234
1977 8,847 1,070,397
1976 1,964 1,127,750
1975 0 1,204,989
1974 7,818 1,332,960
1973 11,690 1,391,449
1972 18,451 1,372,006
1971 21,281 1,331,782
1970 23,173 1,230,496
1969 21,221 1,195,962
1968 20,199 1,191,930
1967 31,618 1,258,475
1966 36,206 682,072
1965 39,748 1,126,448
1964 51,580 1,046,553
1963 41,804 987,770
1962 42,414 901,864
1961 52,349 893,522
1960 40,275 894,874

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0% in Belgium and -0.7% in Japan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and -0.41% in Japan.

Birth rate in Belgium vs Japan by year

Belgium
Japan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Belgium Japan
2023 9.4 6
2022 9.8 6.3
2021 10.2 6.6
2020 9.9 6.8
2019 10.2 7
2018 10.4 7.4
2017 10.5 7.6
2016 10.8 7.8
2015 10.8 8
2014 11.2 8
2013 11.3 8.2
2012 11.5 8.2
2011 11.7 8.3
2010 11.9 8.5
2009 11.8 8.5
2008 11.9 8.7
2007 11.7 8.6
2006 11.6 8.7
2005 11.4 8.4
2004 11.3 8.8
2003 11 8.9
2002 10.9 9.2
2001 11.2 9.3
2000 11.4 9.5
1999 11.2 9.4
1998 11.2 9.6
1997 11.4 9.5
1996 11.5 9.7
1995 11.4 9.6
1994 11.5 10
1993 12 9.6
1992 12.4 9.8
1991 12.6 9.9
1990 12.4 10
1989 12.2 10.2
1988 12.1 10.8
1987 11.9 11.1
1986 11.9 11.4
1985 11.6 11.9
1984 11.7 12.5
1983 11.9 12.7
1982 12.2 12.8
1981 12.6 13
1980 12.6 13.6
1979 12.6 14.2
1978 12.5 14.9
1977 12.4 15.5
1976 12.3 16.3
1975 12.2 17.1
1974 12.7 18.6
1973 13.3 19.4
1972 14 19.3
1971 14.6 19.2
1970 14.7 18.8
1969 14.7 18.5
1968 14.8 18.6
1967 15.3 19.4
1966 15.9 13.7
1965 16.4 18.6
1964 17.2 17.7
1963 17.1 17.3
1962 16.8 17
1961 17.3 16.9
1960 16.8 17.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 6 in Japan, compared with 16.8 and 17.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Belgium Japan
Fertility rate 1.47 1.2
Fertility rate rank 151/196 183/196
Birth rate 9.4 6
Birth rate rank 155/196 192/196
Population change due to births and deaths +0 -871,617
Natural population change rank 157/196 195/196
Natural population change rate +0% -0.7%
Population growth +0.67% -0.43%
Population growth rank 119/197 185/197
Age at first childbirth 29.5 years 30.7 years
Average age at childbearing 31.3 years 32.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.31 1.46
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 55.1 40.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 15.4 10.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 18.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 52.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.3% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.21% 0.08%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 0.18%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.36% 0.24%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 85.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Belgium
Factual

UN forecast
Japan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Belgium Japan
2100 12.8% 11.5%
2099 12.8% 11.5%
2098 12.9% 11.5%
2097 12.9% 11.5%
2096 12.9% 11.6%
2095 13% 11.6%
2094 13% 11.6%
2093 13.1% 11.7%
2092 13.1% 11.7%
2091 13.2% 11.8%
2090 13.2% 11.8%
2089 13.2% 11.8%
2088 13.3% 11.8%
2087 13.3% 11.9%
2086 13.3% 11.9%
2085 13.3% 11.8%
2084 13.3% 11.8%
2083 13.3% 11.8%
2082 13.3% 11.8%
2081 13.3% 11.7%
2080 13.2% 11.6%
2079 13.2% 11.6%
2078 13.2% 11.5%
2077 13.1% 11.4%
2076 13.1% 11.3%
2075 13% 11.2%
2074 13% 11.1%
2073 12.9% 11.1%
2072 12.9% 11%
2071 12.9% 10.9%
2070 12.9% 10.9%
2069 12.9% 10.8%
2068 12.9% 10.8%
2067 13% 10.8%
2066 13% 10.8%
2065 13.1% 10.8%
2064 13.1% 10.8%
2063 13.2% 10.8%
2062 13.3% 10.9%
2061 13.4% 10.9%
2060 13.5% 11%
2059 13.6% 11%
2058 13.7% 11.1%
2057 13.7% 11.1%
2056 13.8% 11.2%
2055 13.9% 11.2%
2054 13.9% 11.3%
2053 13.9% 11.3%
2052 14% 11.3%
2051 14% 11.3%
2050 13.9% 11.2%
2049 13.9% 11.2%
2048 13.8% 11.1%
2047 13.8% 11.1%
2046 13.7% 11%
2045 13.7% 10.9%
2044 13.6% 10.8%
2043 13.5% 10.7%
2042 13.4% 10.6%
2041 13.4% 10.5%
2040 13.3% 10.4%
2039 13.3% 10.3%
2038 13.3% 10.2%
2037 13.3% 10.1%
2036 13.5% 10.1%
2035 13.6% 10.1%
2034 13.7% 10.1%
2033 13.9% 10.1%
2032 14.1% 10.2%
2031 14.3% 10.3%
2030 14.5% 10.5%
2029 14.7% 10.6%
2028 15% 10.8%
2027 15.3% 11%
2026 15.6% 11.1%
2025 15.9% 11.3%
2024 16% 11.4%
2023 16.3% 11.6%
2022 16.5% 11.9%
2021 16.7% 12%
2020 16.8% 12.2%
2019 16.9% 12.4%
2018 16.9% 12.5%
2017 17% 12.6%
2016 17% 12.7%
2015 17% 12.8%
2014 17% 13%
2013 17% 13.1%
2012 17% 13.2%
2011 17% 13.3%
2010 16.9% 13.4%
2009 16.9% 13.5%
2008 16.9% 13.5%
2007 16.9% 13.6%
2006 17% 13.7%
2005 17.1% 13.8%
2004 17.2% 13.8%
2003 17.3% 13.9%
2002 17.5% 14.1%
2001 17.5% 14.2%
2000 17.6% 14.4%
1999 17.7% 14.6%
1998 17.7% 14.8%
1997 17.8% 15.1%
1996 17.9% 15.3%
1995 18% 15.6%
1994 18.1% 16%
1993 18.1% 16.4%
1992 18.2% 16.9%
1991 18.2% 17.4%
1990 18.1% 18%
1989 18.1% 18.8%
1988 18.2% 19.5%
1987 18.3% 20.3%
1986 18.6% 21%
1985 18.8% 21.7%
1984 19.1% 22.2%
1983 19.4% 22.6%
1982 19.6% 23.1%
1981 19.9% 23.3%
1980 20.3% 23.4%
1979 20.6% 23.7%
1978 21% 23.8%
1977 21.4% 23.9%
1976 21.8% 23.9%
1975 22.2% 23.8%
1974 22.6% 23.8%
1973 23% 23.6%
1972 23.3% 23.4%
1971 23.5% 23.3%
1970 23.6% 23.3%
1969 23.8% 23.4%
1968 23.9% 23.5%
1967 23.9% 23.8%
1966 24% 24.4%
1965 24% 25.1%
1964 23.9% 25.8%
1963 23.9% 26.8%
1962 23.8% 28%
1961 23.8% 29.1%
1960 23.7% 29.8%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 11.4% in Japan in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 18% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and Japan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs Japan

Belgium
Japan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Belgium Japan
2023 4 3
2022 11 5
2021 7 4
2020 4 4
2019 4 5
2018 5 5
2017 5 5
2016 5 5
2015 5 5
2014 5 5
2013 6 5
2012 5 6
2011 6 6
2010 6 6
2009 6 6
2008 6 6
2007 7 6
2006 6 7
2005 7 7
2004 7 7
2003 7 8
2002 7 8
2001 8 8
2000 8 9
1999 8 9
1998 8 10
1997 8 10
1996 9 11
1995 9 11
1994 9 11
1993 9 12
1992 9 13
1991 9 13
1990 9 14
1989 9 15
1988 9 16
1987 9 17
1986 9 18
1985 9 19

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 3 deaths in Japan.

Under-five mortality rates

Belgium
Japan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Belgium Japan
2023 0.36% 0.24%
2022 0.37% 0.24%
2021 0.38% 0.24%
2020 0.39% 0.24%
2019 0.39% 0.25%
2018 0.4% 0.25%
2017 0.4% 0.26%
2016 0.41% 0.27%
2015 0.41% 0.28%
2014 0.42% 0.29%
2013 0.42% 0.3%
2012 0.43% 0.31%
2011 0.44% 0.33%
2010 0.45% 0.33%
2009 0.46% 0.34%
2008 0.47% 0.34%
2007 0.48% 0.35%
2006 0.49% 0.36%
2005 0.5% 0.37%
2004 0.52% 0.39%
2003 0.53% 0.4%
2002 0.55% 0.41%
2001 0.57% 0.43%
2000 0.59% 0.45%
1999 0.61% 0.47%
1998 0.64% 0.5%
1997 0.67% 0.52%
1996 0.72% 0.55%
1995 0.77% 0.57%
1994 0.82% 0.59%
1993 0.87% 0.6%
1992 0.92% 0.61%
1991 0.96% 0.62%
1990 1% 0.63%
1989 1.03% 0.64%
1988 1.07% 0.66%
1987 1.1% 0.68%
1986 1.14% 0.71%
1985 1.18% 0.75%
1984 1.22% 0.79%
1983 1.27% 0.83%
1982 1.33% 0.88%
1981 1.39% 0.93%
1980 1.45% 0.99%
1979 1.52% 1.05%
1978 1.59% 1.11%
1977 1.67% 1.18%
1976 1.76% 1.25%
1975 1.86% 1.33%
1974 1.97% 1.41%
1973 2.08% 1.49%
1972 2.19% 1.57%
1971 2.3% 1.65%
1970 2.39% 1.75%
1969 2.48% 1.85%
1968 2.55% 1.96%
1967 2.62% 2.1%
1966 2.7% 2.26%
1965 2.79% 2.46%
1964 2.89% 2.7%
1963 3% 2.98%
1962 3.12% 3.29%
1961 3.25% 3.62%
1960 3.39% 3.97%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/japan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.24% in Japan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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