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Fertility & birth rates in Iraq and Japan

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has an annual birth rate of 25.7 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 3.25 in Iraq and 1.2 in Japan — 63.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 38.7% in Iraq and by 40% in Japan — in 1960, it was 5.3 and 2, respectively.

  • Iraq is ranked 51/196 by birth rate compared to 192/196 for Japan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in Iraq — it's 32.2 in Japan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58 in Iraq vs 1.74 in Japan.
  • In Iraq, 25.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 18.6% in Japan.

Fertility rate in Iraq vs Japan by year

Iraq
Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iraq Japan
2023 3.25 1.2
2022 3.29 1.26
2021 3.36 1.3
2020 3.42 1.33
2019 3.48 1.36
2018 3.55 1.42
2017 3.64 1.43
2016 3.84 1.44
2015 4.08 1.45
2014 4.31 1.42
2013 4.44 1.43
2012 4.54 1.41
2011 4.59 1.39
2010 4.46 1.39
2009 4.38 1.37
2008 4.37 1.37
2007 4.4 1.34
2006 4.46 1.32
2005 4.45 1.26
2004 4.53 1.29
2003 4.58 1.29
2002 4.67 1.32
2001 4.8 1.33
2000 4.92 1.36
1999 5.04 1.34
1998 5.11 1.38
1997 5.19 1.39
1996 5.25 1.43
1995 5.36 1.42
1994 5.49 1.5
1993 5.61 1.46
1992 5.72 1.5
1991 5.83 1.53
1990 5.93 1.54
1989 5.99 1.57
1988 6.05 1.66
1987 6.11 1.69
1986 6.18 1.72
1985 6.25 1.76
1984 6.32 1.81
1983 6.39 1.8
1982 6.46 1.77
1981 6.53 1.74
1980 6.59 1.75
1979 6.66 1.77
1978 6.73 1.79
1977 6.8 1.8
1976 6.86 1.85
1975 6.91 1.91
1974 6.95 2.05
1973 6.99 2.14
1972 7.02 2.14
1971 7.06 2.16
1970 7.07 2.13
1969 7.08 2.13
1968 7.06 2.13
1967 7.03 2.23
1966 7.02 1.58
1965 7.02 2.14
1964 7.01 2.05
1963 7.01 2
1962 6.99 1.98
1961 5.8 1.96
1960 5.3 2

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iraq was 3.25 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 Iraq vs Japan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Iraq
Japan
1x
Year Natural population change
Iraq Japan
2023 973,420 -871,617
2022 962,501 -825,825
2021 941,924 -640,976
2020 919,953 -542,923
2019 942,972 -531,858
2018 938,310 -456,520
2017 924,507 -406,310
2016 946,968 -343,106
2015 1,007,561 -292,424
2014 1,040,726 -267,279
2013 1,026,036 -242,146
2012 999,987 -229,733
2011 971,082 -204,533
2010 906,369 -128,070
2009 855,096 -76,828
2008 802,382 -51,225
2007 784,119 -25,600
2006 797,342 12,785
2005 776,603 -25,554
2004 761,563 76,656
2003 746,159 114,946
2002 739,419 178,423
2001 729,704 203,438
2000 715,771 228,317
1999 702,170 202,610
1998 684,152 265,440
1997 667,582 277,325
1996 652,866 314,392
1995 642,977 276,039
1994 634,344 363,017
1993 606,700 312,073
1992 591,886 360,833
1991 550,146 396,685
1990 518,575 407,478
1989 496,852 467,662
1988 476,778 527,085
1987 488,742 598,138
1986 474,348 631,706
1985 467,445 676,687
1984 455,740 756,523
1983 439,800 775,495
1982 428,336 805,664
1981 416,998 811,861
1980 419,653 864,372
1979 428,458 950,298
1978 418,756 1,011,234
1977 410,229 1,070,397
1976 402,260 1,127,750
1975 385,916 1,204,989
1974 376,197 1,332,960
1973 373,191 1,391,449
1972 362,334 1,372,006
1971 351,464 1,331,782
1970 338,030 1,230,496
1969 324,792 1,195,962
1968 310,644 1,191,930
1967 298,192 1,258,475
1966 285,507 682,072
1965 274,551 1,126,448
1964 262,825 1,046,553
1963 254,046 987,770
1962 247,520 901,864
1961 184,792 893,522
1960 155,651 894,874

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iraq/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 +2.16% in Iraq and -0.7% in Japan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.37% in Iraq and -0.41% in Japan.

Birth rate in Iraq vs Japan by year

Iraq
Japan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Iraq Japan
2023 25.7 6
2022 26 6.3
2021 26.4 6.6
2020 26.8 6.8
2019 27.3 7
2018 27.7 7.4
2017 28.3 7.6
2016 29.8 7.8
2015 31.6 8
2014 33.3 8
2013 34.1 8.2
2012 34.8 8.2
2011 35.5 8.3
2010 34.6 8.5
2009 33.9 8.5
2008 33.6 8.7
2007 34.5 8.6
2006 35 8.7
2005 33.9 8.4
2004 34.3 8.8
2003 34.5 8.9
2002 34.8 9.2
2001 35.5 9.3
2000 36.1 9.5
1999 36.7 9.4
1998 37 9.6
1997 37.3 9.5
1996 37.5 9.7
1995 38 9.6
1994 38.6 10
1993 38.6 9.6
1992 39.5 9.8
1991 40 9.9
1990 40.6 10
1989 39.6 10.2
1988 39.4 10.8
1987 39 11.1
1986 39 11.4
1985 39.5 11.9
1984 39.6 12.5
1983 39.6 12.7
1982 39.9 12.8
1981 40.2 13
1980 40.5 13.6
1979 41 14.2
1978 41.4 14.9
1977 42.1 15.5
1976 42.8 16.3
1975 43.4 17.1
1974 44 18.6
1973 44.4 19.4
1972 44.9 19.3
1971 45.4 19.2
1970 45.6 18.8
1969 45.9 18.5
1968 46 18.6
1967 46.1 19.4
1966 46.4 13.7
1965 46.7 18.6
1964 47.1 17.7
1963 47.5 17.3
1962 47.9 17
1961 40 16.9
1960 36.7 17.2

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.7 in Iraq and 6 in Japan, compared with 36.7 and 17.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Iraq Japan
Fertility rate 3.25 1.2
Fertility rate rank 49/196 183/196
Birth rate 25.7 6
Birth rate rank 51/196 192/196
Population change due to births and deaths +973,420 -871,617
Natural population change rank 20/196 195/196
Natural population change rate +2.16% -0.7%
Population growth +2.15% -0.43%
Population growth rank 46/197 185/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 30.7 years
Average age at childbearing 28.6 years 32.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 56 1.46
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 162.2 40.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 44.9 10.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.3% 18.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 36.1% 52.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 95.6% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.07% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.29% 0.08%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.08% 0.18%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 2.26% 0.24%
Life expectancy 72.6 years 85.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Iraq
Factual

UN forecast
Japan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Iraq Japan
2100 18.2% 11.5%
2099 18.3% 11.5%
2098 18.4% 11.5%
2097 18.5% 11.5%
2096 18.6% 11.6%
2095 18.8% 11.6%
2094 18.9% 11.6%
2093 19% 11.7%
2092 19.1% 11.7%
2091 19.2% 11.8%
2090 19.4% 11.8%
2089 19.5% 11.8%
2088 19.7% 11.8%
2087 19.8% 11.9%
2086 19.9% 11.9%
2085 20.1% 11.8%
2084 20.3% 11.8%
2083 20.4% 11.8%
2082 20.6% 11.8%
2081 20.8% 11.7%
2080 20.9% 11.6%
2079 21.1% 11.6%
2078 21.3% 11.5%
2077 21.5% 11.4%
2076 21.6% 11.3%
2075 21.8% 11.2%
2074 22% 11.1%
2073 22.2% 11.1%
2072 22.3% 11%
2071 22.5% 10.9%
2070 22.7% 10.9%
2069 22.8% 10.8%
2068 23% 10.8%
2067 23.2% 10.8%
2066 23.4% 10.8%
2065 23.6% 10.8%
2064 23.8% 10.8%
2063 24% 10.8%
2062 24.2% 10.9%
2061 24.4% 10.9%
2060 24.6% 11%
2059 24.9% 11%
2058 25.1% 11.1%
2057 25.4% 11.1%
2056 25.7% 11.2%
2055 26% 11.2%
2054 26.3% 11.3%
2053 26.6% 11.3%
2052 26.9% 11.3%
2051 27.2% 11.3%
2050 27.5% 11.2%
2049 27.8% 11.2%
2048 28.1% 11.1%
2047 28.4% 11.1%
2046 28.7% 11%
2045 29% 10.9%
2044 29.3% 10.8%
2043 29.5% 10.7%
2042 29.8% 10.6%
2041 30% 10.5%
2040 30.3% 10.4%
2039 30.5% 10.3%
2038 30.7% 10.2%
2037 31% 10.1%
2036 31.2% 10.1%
2035 31.5% 10.1%
2034 31.7% 10.1%
2033 32% 10.1%
2032 32.3% 10.2%
2031 32.7% 10.3%
2030 33.2% 10.5%
2029 33.7% 10.6%
2028 34.4% 10.8%
2027 35.1% 11%
2026 35.7% 11.1%
2025 36.3% 11.3%
2024 36.6% 11.4%
2023 37.1% 11.6%
2022 37.6% 11.9%
2021 38.1% 12%
2020 38.5% 12.2%
2019 38.9% 12.4%
2018 39.3% 12.5%
2017 39.7% 12.6%
2016 40.1% 12.7%
2015 40.4% 12.8%
2014 40.6% 13%
2013 40.8% 13.1%
2012 41% 13.2%
2011 41.1% 13.3%
2010 41.2% 13.4%
2009 41.5% 13.5%
2008 41.8% 13.5%
2007 42.1% 13.6%
2006 42.3% 13.7%
2005 42.6% 13.8%
2004 42.9% 13.8%
2003 43.1% 13.9%
2002 43.3% 14.1%
2001 43.5% 14.2%
2000 43.7% 14.4%
1999 43.8% 14.6%
1998 44% 14.8%
1997 44.1% 15.1%
1996 44.3% 15.3%
1995 44.4% 15.6%
1994 44.6% 16%
1993 44.7% 16.4%
1992 44.9% 16.9%
1991 45% 17.4%
1990 45.2% 18%
1989 45.4% 18.8%
1988 45.6% 19.5%
1987 45.8% 20.3%
1986 46% 21%
1985 46.2% 21.7%
1984 46.3% 22.2%
1983 46.5% 22.6%
1982 46.6% 23.1%
1981 46.7% 23.3%
1980 46.8% 23.4%
1979 47% 23.7%
1978 47.1% 23.8%
1977 47.3% 23.9%
1976 47.2% 23.9%
1975 46.7% 23.8%
1974 46.2% 23.8%
1973 45.5% 23.6%
1972 44.7% 23.4%
1971 44.1% 23.3%
1970 43.6% 23.3%
1969 43.3% 23.4%
1968 43% 23.5%
1967 42.8% 23.8%
1966 42.5% 24.4%
1965 42.1% 25.1%
1964 41.5% 25.8%
1963 41% 26.8%
1962 40.4% 28%
1961 39.9% 29.1%
1960 39.8% 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/iraq/japan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.6% of the population in Iraq and 11.4% in Japan in 2024, compared to 45.2% and 18% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iraq and Japan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Iraq vs Japan

Iraq
Japan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Iraq Japan
2023 66 3
2022 59 5
2021 77 4
2020 63 4
2019 74 5
2018 76 5
2017 81 5
2016 87 5
2015 86 5
2014 90 5
2013 96 5
2012 100 6
2011 105 6
2010 107 6
2009 107 6
2008 109 6
2007 117 6
2006 120 7
2005 118 7
2004 122 7
2003 125 8
2002 128 8
2001 137 8
2000 146 9
1999 156 9
1998 163 10
1997 165 10
1996 158 11
1995 152 11
1994 142 11
1993 132 12
1992 126 13
1991 157 13
1990 195 14
1989 190 15
1988 174 16
1987 145 17
1986 147 18
1985 152 19

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 66 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iraq, compared to 3 deaths in Japan.

Under-five mortality rates

Iraq
Japan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Iraq Japan
2023 2.26% 0.24%
2022 2.33% 0.24%
2021 2.41% 0.24%
2020 2.49% 0.24%
2019 2.57% 0.25%
2018 2.66% 0.25%
2017 2.75% 0.26%
2016 2.84% 0.27%
2015 2.94% 0.28%
2014 3.04% 0.29%
2013 3.14% 0.3%
2012 3.24% 0.31%
2011 3.35% 0.33%
2010 3.46% 0.33%
2009 3.56% 0.34%
2008 3.67% 0.34%
2007 3.78% 0.35%
2006 3.88% 0.36%
2005 3.97% 0.37%
2004 4.07% 0.39%
2003 4.16% 0.4%
2002 4.24% 0.41%
2001 4.33% 0.43%
2000 4.43% 0.45%
1999 4.52% 0.47%
1998 4.61% 0.5%
1997 4.71% 0.52%
1996 4.8% 0.55%
1995 4.89% 0.57%
1994 4.98% 0.59%
1993 5.07% 0.6%
1992 5.17% 0.61%
1991 6.49% 0.62%
1990 7.97% 0.63%
1989 8.12% 0.64%
1988 6.92% 0.66%
1987 5.75% 0.68%
1986 5.91% 0.71%
1985 6.09% 0.75%
1984 6.28% 0.79%
1983 6.49% 0.83%
1982 6.71% 0.88%
1981 6.96% 0.93%
1980 7.23% 0.99%
1979 7.52% 1.05%
1978 7.83% 1.11%
1977 8.17% 1.18%
1976 8.54% 1.25%
1975 8.93% 1.33%
1974 9.35% 1.41%
1973 9.79% 1.49%
1972 10.3% 1.57%
1971 10.7% 1.65%
1970 11.2% 1.75%
1969 11.8% 1.85%
1968 12.4% 1.96%
1967 13% 2.1%
1966 13.6% 2.26%
1965 14.4% 2.46%
1964 15.1% 2.7%
1963 16% 2.98%
1962 16.9% 3.29%
1961 17.9% 3.62%
1960 19% 3.97%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.26% in Iraq 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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