Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Japan vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Japan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	Lesotho
2023	1.2	2.69
2022	1.26	2.72
2021	1.3	2.77
2020	1.33	2.85
2019	1.36	2.92
2018	1.42	3.02
2017	1.43	3.11
2016	1.44	3.18
2015	1.45	3.22
2014	1.42	3.24
2013	1.43	3.28
2012	1.41	3.3
2011	1.39	3.34
2010	1.39	3.25
2009	1.37	3.31
2008	1.37	3.39
2007	1.34	3.44
2006	1.32	3.41
2005	1.26	3.43
2004	1.29	3.51
2003	1.29	3.62
2002	1.32	3.68
2001	1.33	3.63
2000	1.36	3.61
1999	1.34	3.67
1998	1.38	3.82
1997	1.39	3.98
1996	1.43	4.06
1995	1.42	4.13
1994	1.5	4.21
1993	1.46	4.37
1992	1.5	4.54
1991	1.53	4.68
1990	1.54	4.81
1989	1.57	4.96
1988	1.66	5.1
1987	1.69	5.22
1986	1.72	5.32
1985	1.76	5.4
1984	1.81	5.48
1983	1.8	5.56
1982	1.77	5.63
1981	1.74	5.69
1980	1.75	5.75
1979	1.77	5.79
1978	1.79	5.82
1977	1.8	5.85
1976	1.85	5.87
1975	1.91	5.83
1974	2.05	5.75
1973	2.14	5.69
1972	2.14	5.69
1971	2.16	5.7
1970	2.13	5.7
1969	2.13	5.7
1968	2.13	5.73
1967	2.23	5.75
1966	1.58	5.76
1965	2.14	5.77
1964	2.05	5.77
1963	2	5.78
1962	1.98	5.79
1961	1.96	5.79
1960	2	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	Lesotho
2023	-871,617	31,115
2022	-825,825	30,803
2021	-640,976	27,806
2020	-542,923	30,721
2019	-531,858	32,279
2018	-456,520	33,112
2017	-406,310	33,601
2016	-343,106	33,390
2015	-292,424	32,087
2014	-267,279	30,922
2013	-242,146	29,789
2012	-229,733	27,592
2011	-204,533	25,647
2010	-128,070	21,877
2009	-76,828	20,335
2008	-51,225	19,349
2007	-25,600	17,763
2006	12,785	15,234
2005	-25,554	15,831
2004	76,656	17,271
2003	114,946	20,133
2002	178,423	22,274
2001	203,438	23,190
2000	228,317	24,786
1999	202,610	27,393
1998	265,440	30,889
1997	277,325	34,637
1996	314,392	36,228
1995	276,039	37,370
1994	363,017	38,629
1993	312,073	40,505
1992	360,833	42,579
1991	396,685	44,026
1990	407,478	45,060
1989	467,662	46,264
1988	527,085	47,158
1987	598,138	47,718
1986	631,706	45,232
1985	676,687	44,575
1984	756,523	43,785
1983	775,495	42,899
1982	805,664	41,941
1981	811,861	40,808
1980	864,372	39,617
1979	950,298	38,440
1978	1,011,234	37,084
1977	1,070,397	35,654
1976	1,127,750	34,117
1975	1,204,989	32,311
1974	1,332,960	30,444
1973	1,391,449	28,859
1972	1,372,006	27,841
1971	1,331,782	26,838
1970	1,230,496	25,935
1969	1,195,962	25,137
1968	1,191,930	24,490
1967	1,258,475	23,911
1966	682,072	23,326
1965	1,126,448	22,755
1964	1,046,553	22,116
1963	987,770	21,585
1962	901,864	21,132
1961	893,522	20,581
1960	894,874	19,981

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 -0.7% in Japan and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Japan vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Japan

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	Lesotho
2023	6	24.1
2022	6.3	24.4
2021	6.6	24.9
2020	6.8	25.6
2019	7	26.4
2018	7.4	27.4
2017	7.6	28.2
2016	7.8	28.9
2015	8	29.2
2014	8	29.5
2013	8.2	30
2012	8.2	30
2011	8.3	30.2
2010	8.5	29.2
2009	8.5	29.4
2008	8.7	29.6
2007	8.6	29.5
2006	8.7	28.6
2005	8.4	28.6
2004	8.8	28.7
2003	8.9	29.3
2002	9.2	29.4
2001	9.3	28.7
2000	9.5	28.2
1999	9.4	28.5
1998	9.6	29.2
1997	9.5	30.2
1996	9.7	30.4
1995	9.6	30.6
1994	10	31
1993	9.6	32
1992	9.8	33.2
1991	9.9	34.2
1990	10	35.1
1989	10.2	36.3
1988	10.8	37.4
1987	11.1	38.3
1986	11.4	37.5
1985	11.9	37.9
1984	12.5	38.4
1983	12.7	38.9
1982	12.8	39.5
1981	13	39.9
1980	13.6	40.4
1979	14.2	40.8
1978	14.9	41
1977	15.5	41.1
1976	16.3	41
1975	17.1	40.6
1974	18.6	40.2
1973	19.4	39.9
1972	19.3	40.2
1971	19.2	40.5
1970	18.8	40.8
1969	18.5	41.3
1968	18.6	41.9
1967	19.4	42.5
1966	13.7	43
1965	18.6	43.3
1964	17.7	43.5
1963	17.3	43.7
1962	17	44.1
1961	16.9	44.3
1960	17.2	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 17.2 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	Lesotho
2100	11.5%	18%
2099	11.5%	18.1%
2098	11.5%	18.2%
2097	11.5%	18.3%
2096	11.6%	18.3%
2095	11.6%	18.4%
2094	11.6%	18.5%
2093	11.7%	18.6%
2092	11.7%	18.7%
2091	11.8%	18.9%
2090	11.8%	19%
2089	11.8%	19.1%
2088	11.8%	19.2%
2087	11.9%	19.3%
2086	11.9%	19.4%
2085	11.8%	19.6%
2084	11.8%	19.7%
2083	11.8%	19.8%
2082	11.8%	19.9%
2081	11.7%	20%
2080	11.6%	20.2%
2079	11.6%	20.3%
2078	11.5%	20.4%
2077	11.4%	20.5%
2076	11.3%	20.6%
2075	11.2%	20.7%
2074	11.1%	20.9%
2073	11.1%	21%
2072	11%	21.1%
2071	10.9%	21.3%
2070	10.9%	21.4%
2069	10.8%	21.5%
2068	10.8%	21.7%
2067	10.8%	21.9%
2066	10.8%	22%
2065	10.8%	22.2%
2064	10.8%	22.4%
2063	10.8%	22.6%
2062	10.9%	22.8%
2061	10.9%	23%
2060	11%	23.3%
2059	11%	23.5%
2058	11.1%	23.7%
2057	11.1%	24%
2056	11.2%	24.2%
2055	11.2%	24.5%
2054	11.3%	24.7%
2053	11.3%	25%
2052	11.3%	25.3%
2051	11.3%	25.5%
2050	11.2%	25.8%
2049	11.2%	26.1%
2048	11.1%	26.3%
2047	11.1%	26.5%
2046	11%	26.8%
2045	10.9%	27%
2044	10.8%	27.3%
2043	10.7%	27.5%
2042	10.6%	27.7%
2041	10.5%	28%
2040	10.4%	28.2%
2039	10.3%	28.4%
2038	10.2%	28.7%
2037	10.1%	28.9%
2036	10.1%	29.2%
2035	10.1%	29.5%
2034	10.1%	29.9%
2033	10.1%	30.3%
2032	10.2%	30.8%
2031	10.3%	31.3%
2030	10.5%	31.8%
2029	10.6%	32.3%
2028	10.8%	32.8%
2027	11%	33.4%
2026	11.1%	33.9%
2025	11.3%	34.3%
2024	11.4%	34.5%
2023	11.6%	34.9%
2022	11.9%	35.3%
2021	12%	35.6%
2020	12.2%	35.8%
2019	12.4%	36.1%
2018	12.5%	36.3%
2017	12.6%	36.5%
2016	12.7%	36.6%
2015	12.8%	36.6%
2014	13%	36.6%
2013	13.1%	36.5%
2012	13.2%	36.5%
2011	13.3%	36.5%
2010	13.4%	36.5%
2009	13.5%	36.6%
2008	13.5%	36.7%
2007	13.6%	36.8%
2006	13.7%	37.1%
2005	13.8%	37.4%
2004	13.8%	37.7%
2003	13.9%	38.1%
2002	14.1%	38.6%
2001	14.2%	39.1%
2000	14.4%	39.6%
1999	14.6%	40.2%
1998	14.8%	40.7%
1997	15.1%	41.2%
1996	15.3%	41.7%
1995	15.6%	42%
1994	16%	42.3%
1993	16.4%	42.6%
1992	16.9%	42.8%
1991	17.4%	42.9%
1990	18%	42.9%
1989	18.8%	42.8%
1988	19.5%	42.7%
1987	20.3%	42.5%
1986	21%	42.7%
1985	21.7%	43%
1984	22.2%	42.8%
1983	22.6%	42.7%
1982	23.1%	42.5%
1981	23.3%	42.3%
1980	23.4%	42.1%
1979	23.7%	41.9%
1978	23.8%	41.7%
1977	23.9%	41.5%
1976	23.9%	41.4%
1975	23.8%	41.6%
1974	23.8%	41.9%
1973	23.6%	42.3%
1972	23.4%	42.7%
1971	23.3%	43.1%
1970	23.3%	43.6%
1969	23.4%	44%
1968	23.5%	44.4%
1967	23.8%	44.8%
1966	24.4%	44.9%
1965	25.1%	44.8%
1964	25.8%	44.9%
1963	26.8%	45.2%
1962	28%	45.3%
1961	29.1%	45.2%
1960	29.8%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 18% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Japan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Japan	Lesotho
2023	3	478
2022	5	477
2021	4	577
2020	4	529
2019	5	467
2018	5	491
2017	5	468
2016	5	518
2015	5	594
2014	5	707
2013	5	855
2012	6	1,000
2011	6	1,210
2010	6	1,311
2009	6	1,387
2008	6	1,205
2007	6	891
2006	7	696
2005	7	549
2004	7	499
2003	8	508
2002	8	484
2001	8	465
2000	9	413
1999	9	371
1998	10	332
1997	10	312
1996	11	319
1995	11	357
1994	11	423
1993	12	542
1992	13	601
1991	13	641
1990	14	665
1989	15	680
1988	16	680
1987	17	686
1986	18	680
1985	19	711

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Japan, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	Lesotho
2023	0.24%	5.89%
2022	0.24%	6.15%
2021	0.24%	6.44%
2020	0.24%	6.68%
2019	0.25%	6.87%
2018	0.25%	6.91%
2017	0.26%	7.12%
2016	0.27%	7.18%
2015	0.28%	7.51%
2014	0.29%	7.82%
2013	0.3%	8.02%
2012	0.31%	8.26%
2011	0.33%	8.59%
2010	0.33%	9.01%
2009	0.34%	9.64%
2008	0.34%	10.9%
2007	0.35%	11.2%
2006	0.36%	11.5%
2005	0.37%	11.6%
2004	0.39%	11.5%
2003	0.4%	11.4%
2002	0.41%	11.2%
2001	0.43%	11.1%
2000	0.45%	10.9%
1999	0.47%	10.7%
1998	0.5%	10.5%
1997	0.52%	10.2%
1996	0.55%	9.83%
1995	0.57%	9.45%
1994	0.59%	9.07%
1993	0.6%	8.73%
1992	0.61%	8.51%
1991	0.62%	8.43%
1990	0.63%	8.47%
1989	0.64%	8.6%
1988	0.66%	8.8%
1987	0.68%	9.06%
1986	0.71%	9.36%
1985	0.75%	9.72%
1984	0.79%	10.1%
1983	0.83%	10.6%
1982	0.88%	11.1%
1981	0.93%	11.7%
1980	0.99%	12.3%
1979	1.05%	12.9%
1978	1.11%	13.6%
1977	1.18%	14.2%
1976	1.25%	14.9%
1975	1.33%	15.5%
1974	1.41%	16%
1973	1.49%	16.5%
1972	1.57%	16.9%
1971	1.65%	17.3%
1970	1.75%	17.7%
1969	1.85%	18%
1968	1.96%	18.3%
1967	2.1%	18.5%
1966	2.26%	18.6%
1965	2.46%	18.7%
1964	2.7%	18.6%
1963	2.98%	18.6%
1962	3.29%	18.5%
1961	3.62%	18.5%
1960	3.97%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.