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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Malta

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.1 for Malta. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 1.06 in Malta — 11.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 70.7% in Malta — in 1960, it was 2 and 3.62, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 174/196 for Malta.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.7 years in Japan, compared to 29.8 years in Malta.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 31.3 in Malta.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 10.4 in Malta.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.6% in Malta.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Malta by year

Japan
Malta
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Malta
2023 1.2 1.06
2022 1.26 1.08
2021 1.3 1.13
2020 1.33 1.13
2019 1.36 1.14
2018 1.42 1.23
2017 1.43 1.26
2016 1.44 1.37
2015 1.45 1.37
2014 1.42 1.38
2013 1.43 1.36
2012 1.41 1.42
2011 1.39 1.45
2010 1.39 1.36
2009 1.37 1.42
2008 1.37 1.43
2007 1.34 1.35
2006 1.32 1.36
2005 1.26 1.38
2004 1.29 1.4
2003 1.29 1.48
2002 1.32 1.45
2001 1.33 1.48
2000 1.36 1.68
1999 1.34 1.73
1998 1.38 1.84
1997 1.39 1.93
1996 1.43 1.99
1995 1.42 1.77
1994 1.5 1.84
1993 1.46 1.96
1992 1.5 2.07
1991 1.53 1.99
1990 1.54 2.02
1989 1.57 2.1
1988 1.66 2.06
1987 1.69 1.97
1986 1.72 1.93
1985 1.76 1.95
1984 1.81 1.95
1983 1.8 1.92
1982 1.77 1.9
1981 1.74 1.87
1980 1.75 1.99
1979 1.77 2.1
1978 1.79 2.05
1977 1.8 2.14
1976 1.85 2.21
1975 1.91 2.27
1974 2.05 1.64
1973 2.14 1.65
1972 2.14 2.01
1971 2.16 2.06
1970 2.13 2.03
1969 2.13 2.02
1968 2.13 2.12
1967 2.23 2.24
1966 1.58 2.33
1965 2.14 2.52
1964 2.05 2.79
1963 2 2.9
1962 1.98 3.24
1961 1.96 3.27
1960 2 3.62

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/malta | 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 1.06 in Malta in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Malta
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Malta
2023 -871,617 442
2022 -825,825 54
2021 -640,976 259
2020 -542,923 361
2019 -531,858 655
2018 -456,520 774
2017 -406,310 747
2016 -343,106 1,091
2015 -292,424 888
2014 -267,279 910
2013 -242,146 807
2012 -229,733 714
2011 -204,533 916
2010 -128,070 871
2009 -76,828 825
2008 -51,225 777
2007 -25,600 691
2006 12,785 568
2005 -25,554 727
2004 76,656 883
2003 114,946 917
2002 178,423 911
2001 203,438 1,061
2000 228,317 1,482
1999 202,610 1,357
1998 265,440 1,656
1997 277,325 1,991
1996 314,392 2,279
1995 276,039 1,887
1994 363,017 2,136
1993 312,073 2,451
1992 360,833 2,573
1991 396,685 2,438
1990 407,478 2,621
1989 467,662 2,981
1988 527,085 2,813
1987 598,138 2,412
1986 631,706 2,395
1985 676,687 2,590
1984 756,523 2,678
1983 775,495 2,512
1982 805,664 2,835
1981 811,861 2,233
1980 864,372 2,375
1979 950,298 2,852
1978 1,011,234 2,389
1977 1,070,397 2,916
1976 1,127,750 2,721
1975 1,204,989 2,829
1974 1,332,960 2,687
1973 1,391,449 2,327
1972 1,372,006 2,480
1971 1,331,782 2,482
1970 1,230,496 2,270
1969 1,195,962 2,069
1968 1,191,930 2,247
1967 1,258,475 2,306
1966 682,072 2,458
1965 1,126,448 2,646
1964 1,046,553 3,630
1963 987,770 3,709
1962 901,864 4,664
1961 893,522 4,748
1960 894,874 5,747

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/malta | 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 +0.08% in Malta.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.13% in Malta.

Birth rate in Japan vs Malta by year

Japan
Malta

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Malta
2023 6 8.1
2022 6.3 8.1
2021 6.6 8.5
2020 6.8 8.6
2019 7 8.6
2018 7.4 9.2
2017 7.6 9.2
2016 7.8 9.8
2015 8 9.7
2014 8 9.6
2013 8.2 9.5
2012 8.2 9.8
2011 8.3 10
2010 8.5 9.4
2009 8.5 9.8
2008 8.7 9.8
2007 8.6 9.3
2006 8.7 9.3
2005 8.4 9.6
2004 8.8 9.7
2003 8.9 10.2
2002 9.2 9.9
2001 9.3 10.1
2000 9.5 11.3
1999 9.4 11.4
1998 9.6 12.1
1997 9.5 12.7
1996 9.7 13.3
1995 9.6 12.2
1994 10 12.9
1993 9.6 13.9
1992 9.8 14.9
1991 9.9 14.6
1990 10 15.2
1989 10.2 15.9
1988 10.8 15.9
1987 11.1 15.4
1986 11.4 15.3
1985 11.9 16.1
1984 12.5 16.9
1983 12.7 17.1
1982 12.8 18.1
1981 13 16.6
1980 13.6 17.7
1979 14.2 18.6
1978 14.9 18.2
1977 15.5 18.9
1976 16.3 18.6
1975 17.1 18.8
1974 18.6 18
1973 19.4 17.4
1972 19.3 17.8
1971 19.2 18.4
1970 18.8 17.6
1969 18.5 16.7
1968 18.6 16.7
1967 19.4 17
1966 13.7 16.9
1965 18.6 17.7
1964 17.7 19.9
1963 17.3 20.7
1962 17 23.2
1961 16.9 23.6
1960 17.2 26.2

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 8.1 in Malta, compared with 17.2 and 26.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Malta
Fertility rate 1.2 1.06
Fertility rate rank 183/196 191/196
Birth rate 6 8.1
Birth rate rank 192/196 174/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +442
Natural population change rank 195/196 147/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +0.08%
Population growth -0.43% +2.91%
Population growth rank 185/197 19/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years 29.8 years
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 31.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 9.69
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 38.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 16
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 22.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.008%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.37%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.48%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.55%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Malta
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Malta
2100 11.5% 10.1%
2099 11.5% 10.1%
2098 11.5% 10.1%
2097 11.5% 10.1%
2096 11.6% 10.1%
2095 11.6% 10.1%
2094 11.6% 10%
2093 11.7% 9.98%
2092 11.7% 9.93%
2091 11.8% 9.87%
2090 11.8% 9.81%
2089 11.8% 9.75%
2088 11.8% 9.68%
2087 11.9% 9.61%
2086 11.9% 9.55%
2085 11.8% 9.49%
2084 11.8% 9.43%
2083 11.8% 9.39%
2082 11.8% 9.34%
2081 11.7% 9.31%
2080 11.6% 9.28%
2079 11.6% 9.26%
2078 11.5% 9.26%
2077 11.4% 9.25%
2076 11.3% 9.26%
2075 11.2% 9.27%
2074 11.1% 9.29%
2073 11.1% 9.32%
2072 11% 9.35%
2071 10.9% 9.38%
2070 10.9% 9.42%
2069 10.8% 9.45%
2068 10.8% 9.49%
2067 10.8% 9.53%
2066 10.8% 9.57%
2065 10.8% 9.61%
2064 10.8% 9.64%
2063 10.8% 9.67%
2062 10.9% 9.69%
2061 10.9% 9.7%
2060 11% 9.71%
2059 11% 9.71%
2058 11.1% 9.7%
2057 11.1% 9.68%
2056 11.2% 9.66%
2055 11.2% 9.63%
2054 11.3% 9.6%
2053 11.3% 9.57%
2052 11.3% 9.54%
2051 11.3% 9.52%
2050 11.2% 9.51%
2049 11.2% 9.51%
2048 11.1% 9.53%
2047 11.1% 9.57%
2046 11% 9.62%
2045 10.9% 9.7%
2044 10.8% 9.8%
2043 10.7% 9.92%
2042 10.6% 10.1%
2041 10.5% 10.2%
2040 10.4% 10.4%
2039 10.3% 10.5%
2038 10.2% 10.7%
2037 10.1% 10.8%
2036 10.1% 11%
2035 10.1% 11.2%
2034 10.1% 11.4%
2033 10.1% 11.6%
2032 10.2% 11.8%
2031 10.3% 12.1%
2030 10.5% 12.3%
2029 10.6% 12.4%
2028 10.8% 12.5%
2027 11% 12.7%
2026 11.1% 12.8%
2025 11.3% 13%
2024 11.4% 13%
2023 11.6% 13.2%
2022 11.9% 13.2%
2021 12% 13.2%
2020 12.2% 13.3%
2019 12.4% 13.6%
2018 12.5% 13.8%
2017 12.6% 14%
2016 12.7% 14.2%
2015 12.8% 14.2%
2014 13% 14.3%
2013 13.1% 14.5%
2012 13.2% 14.7%
2011 13.3% 14.9%
2010 13.4% 15.2%
2009 13.5% 15.5%
2008 13.5% 15.9%
2007 13.6% 16.4%
2006 13.7% 16.9%
2005 13.8% 17.4%
2004 13.8% 17.9%
2003 13.9% 18.4%
2002 14.1% 18.9%
2001 14.2% 19.4%
2000 14.4% 19.8%
1999 14.6% 20.2%
1998 14.8% 20.7%
1997 15.1% 21.2%
1996 15.3% 21.6%
1995 15.6% 22%
1994 16% 22.3%
1993 16.4% 22.6%
1992 16.9% 22.9%
1991 17.4% 23.1%
1990 18% 23.4%
1989 18.8% 23.6%
1988 19.5% 23.8%
1987 20.3% 24%
1986 21% 24.1%
1985 21.7% 24.1%
1984 22.2% 24%
1983 22.6% 23.8%
1982 23.1% 23.6%
1981 23.3% 23.5%
1980 23.4% 23.4%
1979 23.7% 23.5%
1978 23.8% 23.6%
1977 23.9% 23.8%
1976 23.9% 24.1%
1975 23.8% 24.5%
1974 23.8% 25%
1973 23.6% 25.6%
1972 23.4% 26.3%
1971 23.3% 26.9%
1970 23.3% 27.7%
1969 23.4% 28.5%
1968 23.5% 29.3%
1967 23.8% 30.1%
1966 24.4% 30.9%
1965 25.1% 31.7%
1964 25.8% 32.6%
1963 26.8% 33.4%
1962 28% 34.2%
1961 29.1% 35%
1960 29.8% 35.8%

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/japan/malta | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 13% in Malta in 2024, compared to 18% and 23.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Malta compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Malta

Japan
Malta
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Malta
2023 3 8
2022 5 10
2021 4 10
2020 4 10
2019 5 8
2018 5 9
2017 5 7
2016 5 10
2015 5 7
2014 5 8
2013 5 7
2012 6 9
2011 6 11
2010 6 9
2009 6 11
2008 6 10
2007 6 10
2006 7 12
2005 7 11
2004 7 11
2003 8 13
2002 8 13
2001 8 12
2000 9 13
1999 9 15
1998 10 14
1997 10 15
1996 11 16
1995 11 15
1994 11 16
1993 12 16
1992 13 17
1991 13 17
1990 14 17
1989 15 17
1988 16 17
1987 17 19
1986 18 19
1985 19 21

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/malta | 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 8 deaths in Malta.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Malta

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Malta
2023 0.24% 0.55%
2022 0.24% 0.57%
2021 0.24% 0.58%
2020 0.24% 0.6%
2019 0.25% 0.61%
2018 0.25% 0.63%
2017 0.26% 0.64%
2016 0.27% 0.65%
2015 0.28% 0.66%
2014 0.29% 0.67%
2013 0.3% 0.67%
2012 0.31% 0.68%
2011 0.33% 0.68%
2010 0.33% 0.69%
2009 0.34% 0.69%
2008 0.34% 0.69%
2007 0.35% 0.69%
2006 0.36% 0.69%
2005 0.37% 0.69%
2004 0.39% 0.7%
2003 0.4% 0.71%
2002 0.41% 0.72%
2001 0.43% 0.74%
2000 0.45% 0.76%
1999 0.47% 0.79%
1998 0.5% 0.82%
1997 0.52% 0.86%
1996 0.55% 0.9%
1995 0.57% 0.94%
1994 0.59% 0.98%
1993 0.6% 1.02%
1992 0.61% 1.06%
1991 0.62% 1.1%
1990 0.63% 1.13%
1989 0.64% 1.18%
1988 0.66% 1.23%
1987 0.68% 1.28%
1986 0.71% 1.33%
1985 0.75% 1.39%
1984 0.79% 1.45%
1983 0.83% 1.51%
1982 0.88% 1.57%
1981 0.93% 1.62%
1980 0.99% 1.69%
1979 1.05% 1.76%
1978 1.11% 1.84%
1977 1.18% 1.93%
1976 1.25% 2.03%
1975 1.33% 2.14%
1974 1.41% 2.26%
1973 1.49% 2.39%
1972 1.57% 2.52%
1971 1.65% 2.66%
1970 1.75% 2.79%
1969 1.85% 2.93%
1968 1.96% 3.06%
1967 2.1% 3.19%
1966 2.26% 3.31%
1965 2.46% 3.43%
1964 2.7% 3.53%
1963 2.98% 3.63%
1962 3.29% 3.73%
1961 3.62% 3.85%
1960 3.97% 4%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.55% in Malta. 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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