Fertility & birth rates in China and Japan

Fertility rate in China vs Japan by year

Chart Table

China

Japan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Japan
2023	1	1.2
2022	1.03	1.26
2021	1.12	1.3
2020	1.24	1.33
2019	1.5	1.36
2018	1.54	1.42
2017	1.8	1.43
2016	1.77	1.44
2015	1.67	1.45
2014	1.77	1.42
2013	1.71	1.43
2012	1.8	1.41
2011	1.67	1.39
2010	1.69	1.39
2009	1.71	1.37
2008	1.7	1.37
2007	1.67	1.34
2006	1.64	1.32
2005	1.62	1.26
2004	1.61	1.29
2003	1.57	1.29
2002	1.57	1.32
2001	1.56	1.33
2000	1.63	1.36
1999	1.53	1.34
1998	1.52	1.38
1997	1.53	1.39
1996	1.55	1.43
1995	1.59	1.42
1994	1.63	1.5
1993	1.69	1.46
1992	1.78	1.5
1991	1.93	1.53
1990	2.51	1.54
1989	2.52	1.57
1988	2.54	1.66
1987	2.76	1.69
1986	2.72	1.72
1985	2.63	1.76
1984	2.61	1.81
1983	2.56	1.8
1982	2.97	1.77
1981	2.79	1.74
1980	2.74	1.75
1979	2.75	1.77
1978	2.72	1.79
1977	2.84	1.8
1976	3.24	1.85
1975	3.57	1.91
1974	4.17	2.05
1973	4.73	2.14
1972	5.11	2.14
1971	5.52	2.16
1970	6.09	2.13
1969	6.18	2.13
1968	6.51	2.13
1967	5.81	2.23
1966	6.31	1.58
1965	6.61	2.14
1964	6.67	2.05
1963	7.51	2
1962	6.09	1.98
1961	3.86	1.96
1960	4.45	2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 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 China vs Japan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Japan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Japan
2023	-2,087,851	-871,617
2022	-847,305	-825,825
2021	480,203	-640,976
2020	2,046,095	-542,923
2019	4,673,713	-531,858
2018	5,302,433	-456,520
2017	7,790,880	-406,310
2016	9,062,269	-343,106
2015	6,788,911	-292,424
2014	9,205,180	-267,279
2013	8,043,116	-242,146
2012	10,075,174	-229,733
2011	8,245,065	-204,533
2010	6,407,607	-128,070
2009	6,483,236	-76,828
2008	6,729,247	-51,225
2007	6,813,465	-25,600
2006	6,922,185	12,785
2005	7,678,911	-25,554
2004	7,607,960	76,656
2003	7,743,284	114,946
2002	8,258,580	178,423
2001	8,839,358	203,438
2000	9,570,849	228,317
1999	10,247,372	202,610
1998	11,351,286	265,440
1997	12,374,554	277,325
1996	12,686,872	314,392
1995	12,711,220	276,039
1994	13,360,470	363,017
1993	13,493,138	312,073
1992	13,548,601	360,833
1991	14,937,124	396,685
1990	16,335,313	407,478
1989	16,824,495	467,662
1988	17,328,640	527,085
1987	18,005,821	598,138
1986	16,609,920	631,706
1985	14,987,830	676,687
1984	13,561,671	756,523
1983	13,599,789	775,495
1982	15,815,318	805,664
1981	14,461,027	811,861
1980	11,647,260	864,372
1979	11,250,148	950,298
1978	11,473,980	1,011,234
1977	11,378,068	1,070,397
1976	11,782,472	1,127,750
1975	14,378,237	1,204,989
1974	15,738,118	1,332,960
1973	18,423,727	1,391,449
1972	19,102,585	1,372,006
1971	19,622,980	1,331,782
1970	21,137,076	1,230,496
1969	20,760,332	1,195,962
1968	21,206,083	1,191,930
1967	19,263,662	1,258,475
1966	19,282,187	682,072
1965	20,296,950	1,126,448
1964	19,302,532	1,046,553
1963	22,742,225	987,770
1962	17,969,132	901,864
1961	2,496,047	893,522
1960	-3,048,510	894,874

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 -0.15% in China and -0.7% in Japan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and -0.41% in Japan.

Birth rate in China vs Japan by year

Chart Table

China

Japan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Japan
2023	6.39	6
2022	6.77	6.3
2021	7.52	6.6
2020	8.52	6.8
2019	10.4	7
2018	10.9	7.4
2017	12.6	7.6
2016	13.6	7.8
2015	12	8
2014	13.8	8
2013	13	8.2
2012	14.6	8.2
2011	13.3	8.3
2010	11.9	8.5
2009	12	8.5
2008	12.1	8.7
2007	12.1	8.6
2006	12.1	8.7
2005	12.4	8.4
2004	12.3	8.8
2003	12.4	8.9
2002	12.9	9.2
2001	13.4	9.3
2000	14	9.5
1999	14.6	9.4
1998	15.6	9.6
1997	16.6	9.5
1996	17	9.7
1995	17.1	9.6
1994	17.7	10
1993	18.1	9.6
1992	18.3	9.8
1991	19.7	9.9
1990	21.1	10
1989	21.6	10.2
1988	22.4	10.8
1987	23.3	11.1
1986	22.4	11.4
1985	21	11.9
1984	19.9	12.5
1983	20.2	12.7
1982	22.3	12.8
1981	20.9	13
1980	18.2	13.6
1979	17.8	14.2
1978	18.3	14.9
1977	18.9	15.5
1976	19.9	16.3
1975	23	17.1
1974	24.8	18.6
1973	27.9	19.4
1972	29.8	19.3
1971	30.7	19.2
1970	33.4	18.8
1969	34.1	18.5
1968	35.6	18.6
1967	34	19.4
1966	35.1	13.7
1965	37.9	18.6
1964	39.1	17.7
1963	43.4	17.3
1962	37	17
1961	18	16.9
1960	20.9	17.2

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 6 in Japan, compared with 20.9 and 17.2, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Japan
2100	7.83%	11.5%
2099	7.84%	11.5%
2098	7.87%	11.5%
2097	7.91%	11.5%
2096	7.96%	11.6%
2095	8.03%	11.6%
2094	8.1%	11.6%
2093	8.18%	11.7%
2092	8.26%	11.7%
2091	8.34%	11.8%
2090	8.41%	11.8%
2089	8.47%	11.8%
2088	8.52%	11.8%
2087	8.55%	11.9%
2086	8.57%	11.9%
2085	8.57%	11.8%
2084	8.56%	11.8%
2083	8.53%	11.8%
2082	8.48%	11.8%
2081	8.41%	11.7%
2080	8.34%	11.6%
2079	8.25%	11.6%
2078	8.15%	11.5%
2077	8.06%	11.4%
2076	7.96%	11.3%
2075	7.86%	11.2%
2074	7.77%	11.1%
2073	7.7%	11.1%
2072	7.64%	11%
2071	7.6%	10.9%
2070	7.58%	10.9%
2069	7.59%	10.8%
2068	7.63%	10.8%
2067	7.7%	10.8%
2066	7.8%	10.8%
2065	7.93%	10.8%
2064	8.08%	10.8%
2063	8.25%	10.8%
2062	8.44%	10.9%
2061	8.64%	10.9%
2060	8.84%	11%
2059	9.03%	11%
2058	9.22%	11.1%
2057	9.39%	11.1%
2056	9.54%	11.2%
2055	9.67%	11.2%
2054	9.78%	11.3%
2053	9.86%	11.3%
2052	9.92%	11.3%
2051	9.94%	11.3%
2050	9.94%	11.2%
2049	9.92%	11.2%
2048	9.88%	11.1%
2047	9.82%	11.1%
2046	9.75%	11%
2045	9.67%	10.9%
2044	9.59%	10.8%
2043	9.52%	10.7%
2042	9.46%	10.6%
2041	9.4%	10.5%
2040	9.35%	10.4%
2039	9.32%	10.3%
2038	9.3%	10.2%
2037	9.32%	10.1%
2036	9.42%	10.1%
2035	9.63%	10.1%
2034	10%	10.1%
2033	10.5%	10.1%
2032	11.2%	10.2%
2031	11.8%	10.3%
2030	12.4%	10.5%
2029	13.1%	10.6%
2028	13.8%	10.8%
2027	14.5%	11%
2026	15.1%	11.1%
2025	15.7%	11.3%
2024	16%	11.4%
2023	16.6%	11.6%
2022	17.1%	11.9%
2021	17.6%	12%
2020	18%	12.2%
2019	18.2%	12.4%
2018	18.3%	12.5%
2017	18.4%	12.6%
2016	18.3%	12.7%
2015	18.3%	12.8%
2014	18.3%	13%
2013	18.3%	13.1%
2012	18.3%	13.2%
2011	18.3%	13.3%
2010	18.5%	13.4%
2009	18.6%	13.5%
2008	18.9%	13.5%
2007	19.2%	13.6%
2006	19.6%	13.7%
2005	20.3%	13.8%
2004	21.2%	13.8%
2003	22%	13.9%
2002	22.9%	14.1%
2001	23.8%	14.2%
2000	24.5%	14.4%
1999	25.2%	14.6%
1998	25.7%	14.8%
1997	26.3%	15.1%
1996	27%	15.3%
1995	27.4%	15.6%
1994	27.8%	16%
1993	28.2%	16.4%
1992	28.4%	16.9%
1991	28.6%	17.4%
1990	28.8%	18%
1989	28.9%	18.8%
1988	29.3%	19.5%
1987	29.8%	20.3%
1986	30.4%	21%
1985	31.2%	21.7%
1984	32.2%	22.2%
1983	33.3%	22.6%
1982	34.3%	23.1%
1981	35.1%	23.3%
1980	36.1%	23.4%
1979	37.2%	23.7%
1978	38.6%	23.8%
1977	39.8%	23.9%
1976	40.3%	23.9%
1975	40.2%	23.8%
1974	40.2%	23.8%
1973	40.1%	23.6%
1972	40.4%	23.4%
1971	40.7%	23.3%
1970	40.8%	23.3%
1969	41%	23.4%
1968	41%	23.5%
1967	41.3%	23.8%
1966	41.5%	24.4%
1965	41.5%	25.1%
1964	41.2%	25.8%
1963	40.6%	26.8%
1962	40%	28%
1961	40%	29.1%
1960	40.3%	29.8%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 11.4% in Japan in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 18% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Japan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Japan

Chart Table

China

Japan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Japan
2023	16	3
2022	18	5
2021	21	4
2020	20	4
2019	21	5
2018	22	5
2017	24	5
2016	25	5
2015	26	5
2014	28	5
2013	30	5
2012	32	6
2011	33	6
2010	34	6
2009	35	6
2008	38	6
2007	38	6
2006	40	7
2005	42	7
2004	45	7
2003	47	8
2002	50	8
2001	52	8
2000	56	9
1999	58	9
1998	60	10
1997	63	10
1996	67	11
1995	71	11
1994	76	11
1993	80	12
1992	86	13
1991	92	13
1990	102	14
1989	104	15
1988	108	16
1987	114	17
1986	120	18
1985	125	19

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 16 deaths per 100,000 live births in China, compared to 3 deaths in Japan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Japan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Japan
2023	0.62%	0.24%
2022	0.66%	0.24%
2021	0.7%	0.24%
2020	0.75%	0.24%
2019	0.8%	0.25%
2018	0.86%	0.25%
2017	0.92%	0.26%
2016	0.99%	0.27%
2015	1.07%	0.28%
2014	1.15%	0.29%
2013	1.25%	0.3%
2012	1.35%	0.31%
2011	1.46%	0.33%
2010	1.58%	0.33%
2009	1.71%	0.34%
2008	1.85%	0.34%
2007	2.01%	0.35%
2006	2.19%	0.36%
2005	2.4%	0.37%
2004	2.64%	0.39%
2003	2.89%	0.4%
2002	3.15%	0.41%
2001	3.42%	0.43%
2000	3.67%	0.45%
1999	3.91%	0.47%
1998	4.14%	0.5%
1997	4.36%	0.52%
1996	4.56%	0.55%
1995	4.75%	0.57%
1994	4.93%	0.59%
1993	5.08%	0.6%
1992	5.22%	0.61%
1991	5.31%	0.62%
1990	5.37%	0.63%
1989	5.39%	0.64%
1988	5.4%	0.66%
1987	5.4%	0.68%
1986	5.4%	0.71%
1985	5.43%	0.75%
1984	5.5%	0.79%
1983	5.61%	0.83%
1982	5.78%	0.88%
1981	6%	0.93%
1980	6.28%	0.99%
1979	6.62%	1.05%
1978	7.01%	1.11%
1977	7.47%	1.18%
1976	7.97%	1.25%
1975	8.5%	1.33%
1974	9.05%	1.41%
1973	9.61%	1.49%
1972	10.2%	1.57%
1971	10.7%	1.65%
1970	11.3%	1.75%
1969	11.9%	1.85%
1968	-	1.96%
1967	-	2.1%
1966	-	2.26%
1965	-	2.46%
1964	-	2.7%
1963	-	2.98%
1962	-	3.29%
1961	-	3.62%
1960	-	3.97%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.24% in Japan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.