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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Malaysia

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 12.4 for Malaysia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 1.55 in Malaysia — 29.2% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 75.8% in Malaysia — in 1960, it was 2 and 6.41, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 112/196 for Malaysia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 31 in Malaysia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 5.96 in Malaysia.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.5% in Malaysia.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Malaysia by year

Japan
Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Malaysia
2023 1.2 1.55
2022 1.26 1.55
2021 1.3 1.56
2020 1.33 1.68
2019 1.36 1.78
2018 1.42 1.84
2017 1.43 1.89
2016 1.44 1.94
2015 1.45 2.01
2014 1.42 2.06
2013 1.43 2.07
2012 1.41 2.12
2011 1.39 2.15
2010 1.39 2.14
2009 1.37 2.22
2008 1.37 2.26
2007 1.34 2.25
2006 1.32 2.31
2005 1.26 2.39
2004 1.29 2.49
2003 1.29 2.6
2002 1.32 2.66
2001 1.33 2.81
2000 1.36 2.94
1999 1.34 3.07
1998 1.38 3.12
1997 1.39 3.23
1996 1.43 3.3
1995 1.42 3.32
1994 1.5 3.35
1993 1.46 3.36
1992 1.5 3.37
1991 1.53 3.34
1990 1.54 3.3
1989 1.57 3.31
1988 1.66 3.5
1987 1.69 3.57
1986 1.72 3.7
1985 1.76 3.8
1984 1.81 3.89
1983 1.8 3.93
1982 1.77 3.97
1981 1.74 4
1980 1.75 4.04
1979 1.77 4.09
1978 1.79 4.18
1977 1.8 4.28
1976 1.85 4.4
1975 1.91 4.5
1974 2.05 4.62
1973 2.14 4.73
1972 2.14 4.82
1971 2.16 4.92
1970 2.13 5.04
1969 2.13 5.16
1968 2.13 5.29
1967 2.23 5.43
1966 1.58 5.64
1965 2.14 5.84
1964 2.05 6.03
1963 2 6.19
1962 1.98 6.3
1961 1.96 6.37
1960 2 6.41

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.55 in Malaysia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Malaysia
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Malaysia
2023 -871,617 254,806
2022 -825,825 237,560
2021 -640,976 212,002
2020 -542,923 283,282
2019 -531,858 309,426
2018 -456,520 324,568
2017 -406,310 336,434
2016 -343,106 345,681
2015 -292,424 358,302
2014 -267,279 367,587
2013 -242,146 366,738
2012 -229,733 371,497
2011 -204,533 372,836
2010 -128,070 360,260
2009 -76,828 366,157
2008 -51,225 362,380
2007 -25,600 348,711
2006 12,785 349,509
2005 -25,554 355,324
2004 76,656 365,138
2003 114,946 377,425
2002 178,423 381,084
2001 203,438 400,939
2000 228,317 417,371
1999 202,610 432,355
1998 265,440 436,316
1997 277,325 447,768
1996 314,392 450,174
1995 276,039 443,349
1994 363,017 437,873
1993 312,073 429,910
1992 360,833 418,900
1991 396,685 401,938
1990 407,478 384,518
1989 467,662 373,277
1988 527,085 386,507
1987 598,138 381,999
1986 631,706 385,799
1985 676,687 383,243
1984 756,523 376,797
1983 775,495 365,290
1982 805,664 353,138
1981 811,861 339,991
1980 864,372 326,947
1979 950,298 317,439
1978 1,011,234 311,027
1977 1,070,397 305,515
1976 1,127,750 300,615
1975 1,204,989 294,541
1974 1,332,960 289,880
1973 1,391,449 284,611
1972 1,372,006 276,263
1971 1,331,782 272,323
1970 1,230,496 269,341
1969 1,195,962 264,327
1968 1,191,930 260,705
1967 1,258,475 258,764
1966 682,072 262,162
1965 1,126,448 264,836
1964 1,046,553 266,406
1963 987,770 265,815
1962 901,864 262,140
1961 893,522 257,270
1960 894,874 251,090

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/malaysia | 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 -0.7% in Japan and +0.73% in Malaysia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.92% in Malaysia.

Birth rate in Japan vs Malaysia by year

Japan
Malaysia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Malaysia
2023 6 12.4
2022 6.3 12.4
2021 6.6 12.4
2020 6.8 13.4
2019 7 14.2
2018 7.4 14.8
2017 7.6 15.3
2016 7.8 15.8
2015 8 16.3
2014 8 16.7
2013 8.2 16.8
2012 8.2 17
2011 8.3 17.2
2010 8.5 16.9
2009 8.5 17.3
2008 8.7 17.4
2007 8.6 17.1
2006 8.7 17.4
2005 8.4 17.9
2004 8.8 18.7
2003 8.9 19.6
2002 9.2 20.1
2001 9.3 21.4
2000 9.5 22.6
1999 9.4 23.8
1998 9.6 24.4
1997 9.5 25.4
1996 9.7 26.1
1995 9.6 26.3
1994 10 26.6
1993 9.6 26.8
1992 9.8 26.8
1991 9.9 26.5
1990 10 26.2
1989 10.2 26.3
1988 10.8 27.8
1987 11.1 28.3
1986 11.4 29.4
1985 11.9 30.1
1984 12.5 30.6
1983 12.7 30.7
1982 12.8 30.8
1981 13 30.8
1980 13.6 30.7
1979 14.2 30.8
1978 14.9 31
1977 15.5 31.3
1976 16.3 31.7
1975 17.1 32
1974 18.6 32.3
1973 19.4 32.7
1972 19.3 32.7
1971 19.2 33.2
1970 18.8 33.7
1969 18.5 34
1968 18.6 34.5
1967 19.4 35.1
1966 13.7 36.4
1965 18.6 37.7
1964 17.7 39.1
1963 17.3 40.4
1962 17 41.3
1961 16.9 42.2
1960 17.2 42.9

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 12.4 in Malaysia, compared with 17.2 and 42.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Malaysia
Fertility rate 1.2 1.55
Fertility rate rank 183/196 133/196
Birth rate 6 12.4
Birth rate rank 192/196 112/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +254,806
Natural population change rank 195/196 54/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +0.73%
Population growth -0.43% +1.23%
Population growth rank 185/197 89/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 31 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 5.24
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 66
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 25.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 26.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 34.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.03%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.68%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.81%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 77.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Malaysia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Malaysia
2100 11.5% 13.3%
2099 11.5% 13.3%
2098 11.5% 13.4%
2097 11.5% 13.4%
2096 11.6% 13.4%
2095 11.6% 13.4%
2094 11.6% 13.5%
2093 11.7% 13.5%
2092 11.7% 13.5%
2091 11.8% 13.6%
2090 11.8% 13.6%
2089 11.8% 13.7%
2088 11.8% 13.7%
2087 11.9% 13.7%
2086 11.9% 13.8%
2085 11.8% 13.8%
2084 11.8% 13.8%
2083 11.8% 13.9%
2082 11.8% 13.9%
2081 11.7% 13.9%
2080 11.6% 13.9%
2079 11.6% 13.9%
2078 11.5% 13.9%
2077 11.4% 13.9%
2076 11.3% 13.9%
2075 11.2% 13.9%
2074 11.1% 13.9%
2073 11.1% 13.9%
2072 11% 13.9%
2071 10.9% 13.9%
2070 10.9% 13.9%
2069 10.8% 14%
2068 10.8% 14%
2067 10.8% 14.1%
2066 10.8% 14.1%
2065 10.8% 14.2%
2064 10.8% 14.3%
2063 10.8% 14.4%
2062 10.9% 14.5%
2061 10.9% 14.6%
2060 11% 14.8%
2059 11% 14.9%
2058 11.1% 15.1%
2057 11.1% 15.2%
2056 11.2% 15.4%
2055 11.2% 15.5%
2054 11.3% 15.7%
2053 11.3% 15.8%
2052 11.3% 16%
2051 11.3% 16.1%
2050 11.2% 16.2%
2049 11.2% 16.3%
2048 11.1% 16.4%
2047 11.1% 16.5%
2046 11% 16.6%
2045 10.9% 16.7%
2044 10.8% 16.8%
2043 10.7% 16.9%
2042 10.6% 16.9%
2041 10.5% 17%
2040 10.4% 17.1%
2039 10.3% 17.1%
2038 10.2% 17.2%
2037 10.1% 17.3%
2036 10.1% 17.3%
2035 10.1% 17.5%
2034 10.1% 17.7%
2033 10.1% 18%
2032 10.2% 18.3%
2031 10.3% 18.7%
2030 10.5% 19.2%
2029 10.6% 19.7%
2028 10.8% 20.1%
2027 11% 20.6%
2026 11.1% 21.1%
2025 11.3% 21.6%
2024 11.4% 21.8%
2023 11.6% 22.3%
2022 11.9% 22.8%
2021 12% 23.4%
2020 12.2% 24%
2019 12.4% 24.5%
2018 12.5% 24.9%
2017 12.6% 25.2%
2016 12.7% 25.5%
2015 12.8% 25.8%
2014 13% 26.2%
2013 13.1% 26.6%
2012 13.2% 27%
2011 13.3% 27.4%
2010 13.4% 27.9%
2009 13.5% 28.6%
2008 13.5% 29.4%
2007 13.6% 30%
2006 13.7% 30.7%
2005 13.8% 31.4%
2004 13.8% 32%
2003 13.9% 32.6%
2002 14.1% 33.2%
2001 14.2% 33.7%
2000 14.4% 34.2%
1999 14.6% 34.6%
1998 14.8% 35%
1997 15.1% 35.3%
1996 15.3% 35.5%
1995 15.6% 35.7%
1994 16% 36%
1993 16.4% 36.3%
1992 16.9% 36.6%
1991 17.4% 36.9%
1990 18% 37.2%
1989 18.8% 37.5%
1988 19.5% 37.7%
1987 20.3% 37.9%
1986 21% 38%
1985 21.7% 38.1%
1984 22.2% 38.2%
1983 22.6% 38.4%
1982 23.1% 38.6%
1981 23.3% 38.8%
1980 23.4% 39.2%
1979 23.7% 39.6%
1978 23.8% 40.1%
1977 23.9% 40.6%
1976 23.9% 41.1%
1975 23.8% 41.7%
1974 23.8% 42.2%
1973 23.6% 42.8%
1972 23.4% 43.4%
1971 23.3% 44%
1970 23.3% 44.5%
1969 23.4% 45%
1968 23.5% 45.5%
1967 23.8% 45.9%
1966 24.4% 46.2%
1965 25.1% 46.5%
1964 25.8% 46.6%
1963 26.8% 46.5%
1962 28% 46.3%
1961 29.1% 45.9%
1960 29.8% 45.4%

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/japan/malaysia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 21.8% in Malaysia in 2024, compared to 18% and 37.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Malaysia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Malaysia

Japan
Malaysia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Malaysia
2023 3 26
2022 5 38
2021 4 52
2020 4 29
2019 5 28
2018 5 29
2017 5 29
2016 5 30
2015 5 30
2014 5 30
2013 5 29
2012 6 29
2011 6 29
2010 6 29
2009 6 29
2008 6 29
2007 6 30
2006 7 30
2005 7 31
2004 7 33
2003 8 34
2002 8 34
2001 8 36
2000 9 37
1999 9 38
1998 10 39
1997 10 40
1996 11 42
1995 11 43
1994 11 44
1993 12 46
1992 13 48
1991 13 49
1990 14 51
1989 15 52
1988 16 55
1987 17 56
1986 18 59
1985 19 63

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

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

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 26 deaths in Malaysia.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Malaysia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Malaysia
2023 0.24% 0.81%
2022 0.24% 0.81%
2021 0.24% 0.81%
2020 0.24% 0.81%
2019 0.25% 0.82%
2018 0.25% 0.82%
2017 0.26% 0.82%
2016 0.27% 0.82%
2015 0.28% 0.81%
2014 0.29% 0.81%
2013 0.3% 0.81%
2012 0.31% 0.8%
2011 0.33% 0.81%
2010 0.33% 0.81%
2009 0.34% 0.82%
2008 0.34% 0.82%
2007 0.35% 0.82%
2006 0.36% 0.83%
2005 0.37% 0.83%
2004 0.39% 0.84%
2003 0.4% 0.85%
2002 0.41% 0.88%
2001 0.43% 0.93%
2000 0.45% 1%
1999 0.47% 1.07%
1998 0.5% 1.15%
1997 0.52% 1.23%
1996 0.55% 1.29%
1995 0.57% 1.34%
1994 0.59% 1.39%
1993 0.6% 1.45%
1992 0.61% 1.51%
1991 0.62% 1.58%
1990 0.63% 1.66%
1989 0.64% 1.74%
1988 0.66% 1.83%
1987 0.68% 1.93%
1986 0.71% 2.05%
1985 0.75% 2.18%
1984 0.79% 2.32%
1983 0.83% 2.47%
1982 0.88% 2.65%
1981 0.93% 2.84%
1980 0.99% 3.04%
1979 1.05% 3.25%
1978 1.11% 3.48%
1977 1.18% 3.71%
1976 1.25% 3.97%
1975 1.33% 4.23%
1974 1.41% 4.5%
1973 1.49% 4.79%
1972 1.57% 5.06%
1971 1.65% 5.32%
1970 1.75% 5.56%
1969 1.85% 5.79%
1968 1.96% 6.02%
1967 2.1% 6.27%
1966 2.26% 6.56%
1965 2.46% 6.89%
1964 2.7% 7.28%
1963 2.98% 7.74%
1962 3.29% 8.25%
1961 3.62% 8.83%
1960 3.97% 9.46%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.81% in Malaysia. 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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