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Fertility & birth rates in Denmark and Japan

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has an annual birth rate of 9.7 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 1.5 in Denmark and 1.2 in Japan — 20% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 41.6% in Denmark and by 40% in Japan — in 1960, it was 2.57 and 2, respectively.

  • Denmark is ranked 151/196 by birth rate compared to 192/196 for Japan.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.1 years in Denmark, compared to 30.7 years in Japan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.8 in Denmark — it's 32.2 in Japan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.14 in Denmark vs 1.74 in Japan.
  • In Denmark, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 18.6% in Japan.

Fertility rate in Denmark vs Japan by year

Denmark
Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Denmark Japan
2023 1.5 1.2
2022 1.55 1.26
2021 1.72 1.3
2020 1.68 1.33
2019 1.7 1.36
2018 1.73 1.42
2017 1.75 1.43
2016 1.79 1.44
2015 1.71 1.45
2014 1.69 1.42
2013 1.67 1.43
2012 1.73 1.41
2011 1.75 1.39
2010 1.87 1.39
2009 1.84 1.37
2008 1.89 1.37
2007 1.84 1.34
2006 1.85 1.32
2005 1.8 1.26
2004 1.78 1.29
2003 1.76 1.29
2002 1.72 1.32
2001 1.74 1.33
2000 1.77 1.36
1999 1.73 1.34
1998 1.72 1.38
1997 1.75 1.39
1996 1.75 1.43
1995 1.8 1.42
1994 1.81 1.5
1993 1.75 1.46
1992 1.76 1.5
1991 1.68 1.53
1990 1.67 1.54
1989 1.62 1.57
1988 1.56 1.66
1987 1.5 1.69
1986 1.48 1.72
1985 1.45 1.76
1984 1.4 1.81
1983 1.38 1.8
1982 1.43 1.77
1981 1.44 1.74
1980 1.55 1.75
1979 1.6 1.77
1978 1.67 1.79
1977 1.66 1.8
1976 1.75 1.85
1975 1.92 1.91
1974 1.9 2.05
1973 1.92 2.14
1972 2.03 2.14
1971 2.04 2.16
1970 1.95 2.13
1969 2 2.13
1968 2.12 2.13
1967 2.35 2.23
1966 2.62 1.58
1965 2.61 2.14
1964 2.6 2.05
1963 2.67 2
1962 2.55 1.98
1961 2.55 1.96
1960 2.57 2

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Denmark was 1.5 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 Denmark vs Japan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Denmark
Japan
1x
Year Natural population change
Denmark Japan
2023 -595 -871,617
2022 -1,180 -825,825
2021 5,857 -640,976
2020 5,831 -542,923
2019 6,977 -531,858
2018 6,373 -456,520
2017 8,071 -406,310
2016 9,165 -343,106
2015 5,683 -292,424
2014 5,644 -267,279
2013 3,931 -242,146
2012 5,592 -229,733
2011 6,685 -204,533
2010 8,876 -128,070
2009 8,285 -76,828
2008 10,438 -51,225
2007 8,192 -25,600
2006 9,787 12,785
2005 9,755 -25,554
2004 9,188 76,656
2003 7,007 114,946
2002 5,376 178,423
2001 6,967 203,438
2000 9,078 228,317
1999 6,919 202,610
1998 7,956 265,440
1997 7,927 277,325
1996 6,842 314,392
1995 6,280 276,039
1994 8,850 363,017
1993 4,670 312,073
1992 6,722 360,833
1991 4,639 396,685
1990 2,056 407,478
1989 2,053 467,662
1988 0 527,085
1987 -1,538 598,138
1986 -2,561 631,706
1985 -4,603 676,687
1984 -5,623 756,523
1983 -6,649 775,495
1982 -2,559 805,664
1981 -3,073 811,861
1980 1,537 864,372
1979 4,605 950,298
1978 9,187 1,011,234
1977 11,703 1,070,397
1976 11,667 1,127,750
1975 20,746 1,204,989
1974 19,676 1,332,960
1973 21,092 1,391,449
1972 24,958 1,372,006
1971 26,801 1,331,782
1970 22,673 1,230,496
1969 23,481 1,195,962
1968 27,243 1,191,930
1967 33,363 1,258,475
1966 38,858 682,072
1965 37,596 1,126,448
1964 36,832 1,046,553
1963 36,539 987,770
1962 32,070 901,864
1961 33,205 893,522
1960 32,515 894,874

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark/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 -0.01% in Denmark and -0.7% in Japan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.09% in Denmark and -0.41% in Japan.

Birth rate in Denmark vs Japan by year

Denmark
Japan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Denmark Japan
2023 9.7 6
2022 9.9 6.3
2021 10.8 6.6
2020 10.4 6.8
2019 10.5 7
2018 10.6 7.4
2017 10.6 7.6
2016 10.8 7.8
2015 10.2 8
2014 10.1 8
2013 10 8.2
2012 10.4 8.2
2011 10.6 8.3
2010 11.4 8.5
2009 11.4 8.5
2008 11.8 8.7
2007 11.7 8.6
2006 12 8.7
2005 11.9 8.4
2004 12 8.8
2003 12 8.9
2002 11.9 9.2
2001 12.2 9.3
2000 12.6 9.5
1999 12.4 9.4
1998 12.5 9.6
1997 12.8 9.5
1996 12.9 9.7
1995 13.3 9.6
1994 13.4 10
1993 13 9.6
1992 13.1 9.8
1991 12.5 9.9
1990 12.3 10
1989 12 10.2
1988 11.5 10.8
1987 11 11.1
1986 10.8 11.4
1985 10.5 11.9
1984 10.1 12.5
1983 9.9 12.7
1982 10.3 12.8
1981 10.4 13
1980 11.2 13.6
1979 11.6 14.2
1978 12.2 14.9
1977 12.2 15.5
1976 12.9 16.3
1975 14.2 17.1
1974 14.1 18.6
1973 14.3 19.4
1972 15.1 19.3
1971 15.2 19.2
1970 14.4 18.8
1969 14.6 18.5
1968 15.3 18.6
1967 16.8 19.4
1966 18.4 13.7
1965 18 18.6
1964 17.7 17.7
1963 17.6 17.3
1962 16.7 17
1961 16.6 16.9
1960 16.6 17.2

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.7 in Denmark and 6 in Japan, compared with 16.6 and 17.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Denmark Japan
Fertility rate 1.5 1.2
Fertility rate rank 144/196 183/196
Birth rate 9.7 6
Birth rate rank 151/196 192/196
Population change due to births and deaths -595 -871,617
Natural population change rank 163/196 195/196
Natural population change rate -0.01% -0.7%
Population growth +0.51% -0.43%
Population growth rank 132/197 185/197
Age at first childbirth 30.1 years 30.7 years
Average age at childbearing 31.8 years 32.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 0.95 1.46
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 56.6 40.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.8 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 59.9% 52.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 95.3% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.18% 0.08%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 0.18%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.34% 0.24%
Life expectancy 82.4 years 85.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Denmark
Factual

UN forecast
Japan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Denmark Japan
2100 13.7% 11.5%
2099 13.7% 11.5%
2098 13.7% 11.5%
2097 13.7% 11.5%
2096 13.7% 11.6%
2095 13.7% 11.6%
2094 13.7% 11.6%
2093 13.7% 11.7%
2092 13.7% 11.7%
2091 13.7% 11.8%
2090 13.7% 11.8%
2089 13.7% 11.8%
2088 13.7% 11.8%
2087 13.7% 11.9%
2086 13.7% 11.9%
2085 13.8% 11.8%
2084 13.8% 11.8%
2083 13.8% 11.8%
2082 13.8% 11.8%
2081 13.8% 11.7%
2080 13.8% 11.6%
2079 13.9% 11.6%
2078 13.9% 11.5%
2077 13.9% 11.4%
2076 13.9% 11.3%
2075 14% 11.2%
2074 14% 11.1%
2073 14% 11.1%
2072 14% 11%
2071 14.1% 10.9%
2070 14.1% 10.9%
2069 14.1% 10.8%
2068 14.1% 10.8%
2067 14.1% 10.8%
2066 14.1% 10.8%
2065 14.1% 10.8%
2064 14.2% 10.8%
2063 14.2% 10.8%
2062 14.2% 10.9%
2061 14.2% 10.9%
2060 14.2% 11%
2059 14.2% 11%
2058 14.2% 11.1%
2057 14.3% 11.1%
2056 14.3% 11.2%
2055 14.3% 11.2%
2054 14.3% 11.3%
2053 14.4% 11.3%
2052 14.4% 11.3%
2051 14.5% 11.3%
2050 14.5% 11.2%
2049 14.6% 11.2%
2048 14.6% 11.1%
2047 14.6% 11.1%
2046 14.7% 11%
2045 14.7% 10.9%
2044 14.8% 10.8%
2043 14.8% 10.7%
2042 14.9% 10.6%
2041 14.9% 10.5%
2040 14.9% 10.4%
2039 15% 10.3%
2038 15% 10.2%
2037 15% 10.1%
2036 15.1% 10.1%
2035 15.1% 10.1%
2034 15.2% 10.1%
2033 15.3% 10.1%
2032 15.3% 10.2%
2031 15.4% 10.3%
2030 15.4% 10.5%
2029 15.4% 10.6%
2028 15.4% 10.8%
2027 15.4% 11%
2026 15.5% 11.1%
2025 15.6% 11.3%
2024 15.7% 11.4%
2023 15.9% 11.6%
2022 16% 11.9%
2021 16.2% 12%
2020 16.3% 12.2%
2019 16.4% 12.4%
2018 16.6% 12.5%
2017 16.7% 12.6%
2016 16.8% 12.7%
2015 16.9% 12.8%
2014 17.1% 13%
2013 17.3% 13.1%
2012 17.6% 13.2%
2011 17.8% 13.3%
2010 18% 13.4%
2009 18.2% 13.5%
2008 18.4% 13.5%
2007 18.5% 13.6%
2006 18.7% 13.7%
2005 18.8% 13.8%
2004 18.8% 13.8%
2003 18.8% 13.9%
2002 18.8% 14.1%
2001 18.7% 14.2%
2000 18.5% 14.4%
1999 18.3% 14.6%
1998 18.1% 14.8%
1997 17.9% 15.1%
1996 17.6% 15.3%
1995 17.4% 15.6%
1994 17.2% 16%
1993 17.1% 16.4%
1992 17% 16.9%
1991 17% 17.4%
1990 17.1% 18%
1989 17.2% 18.8%
1988 17.5% 19.5%
1987 17.7% 20.3%
1986 18.1% 21%
1985 18.4% 21.7%
1984 18.8% 22.2%
1983 19.2% 22.6%
1982 19.7% 23.1%
1981 20.3% 23.3%
1980 20.8% 23.4%
1979 21.3% 23.7%
1978 21.8% 23.8%
1977 22.1% 23.9%
1976 22.4% 23.9%
1975 22.6% 23.8%
1974 22.7% 23.8%
1973 22.9% 23.6%
1972 23% 23.4%
1971 23.1% 23.3%
1970 23.3% 23.3%
1969 23.5% 23.4%
1968 23.7% 23.5%
1967 23.8% 23.8%
1966 23.8% 24.4%
1965 23.8% 25.1%
1964 23.8% 25.8%
1963 24% 26.8%
1962 24.2% 28%
1961 24.7% 29.1%
1960 25.2% 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/denmark/japan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 15.7% of the population in Denmark and 11.4% in Japan in 2024, compared to 17.1% and 18% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Denmark and Japan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Denmark vs Japan

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

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark/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 Denmark, compared to 3 deaths in Japan.

Under-five mortality rates

Denmark
Japan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Denmark Japan
2023 0.34% 0.24%
2022 0.35% 0.24%
2021 0.36% 0.24%
2020 0.37% 0.24%
2019 0.38% 0.25%
2018 0.39% 0.25%
2017 0.4% 0.26%
2016 0.4% 0.27%
2015 0.41% 0.28%
2014 0.41% 0.29%
2013 0.41% 0.3%
2012 0.41% 0.31%
2011 0.41% 0.33%
2010 0.41% 0.33%
2009 0.42% 0.34%
2008 0.43% 0.34%
2007 0.45% 0.35%
2006 0.46% 0.36%
2005 0.48% 0.37%
2004 0.5% 0.39%
2003 0.52% 0.4%
2002 0.54% 0.41%
2001 0.55% 0.43%
2000 0.56% 0.45%
1999 0.57% 0.47%
1998 0.59% 0.5%
1997 0.6% 0.52%
1996 0.63% 0.55%
1995 0.65% 0.57%
1994 0.69% 0.59%
1993 0.74% 0.6%
1992 0.79% 0.61%
1991 0.84% 0.62%
1990 0.89% 0.63%
1989 0.93% 0.64%
1988 0.96% 0.66%
1987 0.97% 0.68%
1986 0.97% 0.71%
1985 0.97% 0.75%
1984 0.96% 0.79%
1983 0.96% 0.83%
1982 0.96% 0.88%
1981 0.98% 0.93%
1980 1% 0.99%
1979 1.03% 1.05%
1978 1.06% 1.11%
1977 1.11% 1.18%
1976 1.17% 1.25%
1975 1.23% 1.33%
1974 1.31% 1.41%
1973 1.39% 1.49%
1972 1.49% 1.57%
1971 1.58% 1.65%
1970 1.66% 1.75%
1969 1.73% 1.85%
1968 1.81% 1.96%
1967 1.9% 2.1%
1966 2.01% 2.26%
1965 2.11% 2.46%
1964 2.21% 2.7%
1963 2.3% 2.98%
1962 2.38% 3.29%
1961 2.45% 3.62%
1960 2.5% 3.97%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.34% in Denmark 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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