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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Norway

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.4 for Norway. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 1.4 in Norway — 16.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 50.9% in Norway — in 1960, it was 2 and 2.85, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 156/196 for Norway.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.7 years in Japan, compared to 30.1 years in Norway.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 31.8 in Norway.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 1.41 in Norway.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in Norway.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Norway by year

Japan
Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Norway
2023 1.2 1.4
2022 1.26 1.41
2021 1.3 1.55
2020 1.33 1.48
2019 1.36 1.53
2018 1.42 1.56
2017 1.43 1.62
2016 1.44 1.71
2015 1.45 1.72
2014 1.42 1.75
2013 1.43 1.78
2012 1.41 1.85
2011 1.39 1.88
2010 1.39 1.95
2009 1.37 1.98
2008 1.37 1.96
2007 1.34 1.9
2006 1.32 1.9
2005 1.26 1.84
2004 1.29 1.83
2003 1.29 1.8
2002 1.32 1.75
2001 1.33 1.78
2000 1.36 1.85
1999 1.34 1.85
1998 1.38 1.81
1997 1.39 1.86
1996 1.43 1.89
1995 1.42 1.87
1994 1.5 1.87
1993 1.46 1.86
1992 1.5 1.88
1991 1.53 1.92
1990 1.54 1.93
1989 1.57 1.89
1988 1.66 1.84
1987 1.69 1.74
1986 1.72 1.71
1985 1.76 1.68
1984 1.81 1.66
1983 1.8 1.66
1982 1.77 1.71
1981 1.74 1.7
1980 1.75 1.72
1979 1.77 1.75
1978 1.79 1.77
1977 1.8 1.75
1976 1.85 1.86
1975 1.91 1.98
1974 2.05 2.13
1973 2.14 2.23
1972 2.14 2.38
1971 2.16 2.49
1970 2.13 2.5
1969 2.13 2.7
1968 2.13 2.75
1967 2.23 2.81
1966 1.58 2.9
1965 2.14 2.94
1964 2.05 2.98
1963 2 2.93
1962 1.98 2.91
1961 1.96 2.94
1960 2 2.85

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/norway | 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 1.4 in Norway in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Norway
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Norway
2023 -871,617 8,280
2022 -825,825 5,457
2021 -640,976 14,062
2020 -542,923 12,372
2019 -531,858 13,904
2018 -456,520 14,342
2017 -406,310 15,831
2016 -343,106 17,797
2015 -292,424 18,160
2014 -267,279 18,494
2013 -242,146 17,779
2012 -229,733 18,066
2011 -204,533 18,822
2010 -128,070 20,046
2009 -76,828 20,280
2008 -51,225 19,073
2007 -25,600 16,482
2006 12,785 17,244
2005 -25,554 15,719
2004 76,656 15,612
2003 114,946 14,151
2002 178,423 10,892
2001 203,438 13,090
2000 228,317 15,269
1999 202,610 14,278
1998 265,440 14,181
1997 277,325 15,418
1996 314,392 17,087
1995 276,039 14,821
1994 363,017 16,045
1993 312,073 12,936
1992 360,833 15,431
1991 396,685 16,194
1990 407,478 14,845
1989 467,662 13,949
1988 527,085 12,207
1987 598,138 9,212
1986 631,706 8,751
1985 676,687 6,644
1984 756,523 7,452
1983 775,495 7,844
1982 805,664 9,875
1981 811,861 9,020
1980 864,372 9,806
1979 950,298 10,181
1978 1,011,234 11,364
1977 1,070,397 11,321
1976 1,127,750 13,286
1975 1,204,989 16,430
1974 1,332,960 20,324
1973 1,391,449 21,387
1972 1,372,006 24,777
1971 1,331,782 26,541
1970 1,230,496 25,968
1969 1,195,962 28,858
1968 1,191,930 29,387
1967 1,258,475 30,276
1966 682,072 31,150
1965 1,126,448 31,275
1964 1,046,553 30,293
1963 987,770 26,766
1962 901,864 28,020
1961 893,522 29,239
1960 894,874 29,366

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/norway | 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 +0.15% in Norway.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.26% in Norway.

Birth rate in Japan vs Norway by year

Japan
Norway

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Norway
2023 6 9.4
2022 6.3 9.4
2021 6.6 10.4
2020 6.8 9.8
2019 7 10.2
2018 7.4 10.4
2017 7.6 10.7
2016 7.8 11.2
2015 8 11.3
2014 8 11.5
2013 8.2 11.6
2012 8.2 12
2011 8.3 12.2
2010 8.5 12.6
2009 8.5 12.8
2008 8.7 12.7
2007 8.6 12.4
2006 8.7 12.6
2005 8.4 12.3
2004 8.8 12.4
2003 8.9 12.4
2002 9.2 12.2
2001 9.3 12.6
2000 9.5 13.2
1999 9.4 13.3
1998 9.6 13.2
1997 9.5 13.6
1996 9.7 13.9
1995 9.6 13.8
1994 10 13.9
1993 9.6 13.8
1992 9.8 14
1991 9.9 14.3
1990 10 14.4
1989 10.2 14
1988 10.8 13.7
1987 11.1 12.9
1986 11.4 12.6
1985 11.9 12.3
1984 12.5 12.1
1983 12.7 12.1
1982 12.8 12.5
1981 13 12.4
1980 13.6 12.5
1979 14.2 12.7
1978 14.9 12.8
1977 15.5 12.6
1976 16.3 13.3
1975 17.1 14.1
1974 18.6 15
1973 19.4 15.5
1972 19.3 16.3
1971 19.2 16.8
1970 18.8 16.7
1969 18.5 17.6
1968 18.6 17.6
1967 19.4 17.6
1966 13.7 17.9
1965 18.6 17.8
1964 17.7 17.7
1963 17.3 17.3
1962 17 17.1
1961 16.9 17.3
1960 17.2 17.3

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 9.4 in Norway, compared with 17.2 and 17.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Norway
Fertility rate 1.2 1.4
Fertility rate rank 183/196 162/196
Birth rate 6 9.4
Birth rate rank 192/196 156/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +8,280
Natural population change rank 195/196 118/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +0.15%
Population growth -0.43% +0.95%
Population growth rank 185/197 105/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years 30.1 years
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 31.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 1.11
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 52.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 18.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 69.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.001%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.13%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.19%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.24%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Norway
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Norway
2100 11.5% 12.8%
2099 11.5% 12.8%
2098 11.5% 12.8%
2097 11.5% 12.8%
2096 11.6% 12.8%
2095 11.6% 12.9%
2094 11.6% 12.9%
2093 11.7% 12.9%
2092 11.7% 12.9%
2091 11.8% 13%
2090 11.8% 13%
2089 11.8% 13%
2088 11.8% 13%
2087 11.9% 13%
2086 11.9% 13.1%
2085 11.8% 13.1%
2084 11.8% 13.1%
2083 11.8% 13.1%
2082 11.8% 13.1%
2081 11.7% 13.1%
2080 11.6% 13%
2079 11.6% 13%
2078 11.5% 13%
2077 11.4% 13%
2076 11.3% 13%
2075 11.2% 13%
2074 11.1% 12.9%
2073 11.1% 12.9%
2072 11% 12.9%
2071 10.9% 12.9%
2070 10.9% 12.9%
2069 10.8% 12.9%
2068 10.8% 12.9%
2067 10.8% 13%
2066 10.8% 13%
2065 10.8% 13%
2064 10.8% 13.1%
2063 10.8% 13.1%
2062 10.9% 13.2%
2061 10.9% 13.2%
2060 11% 13.3%
2059 11% 13.4%
2058 11.1% 13.4%
2057 11.1% 13.5%
2056 11.2% 13.6%
2055 11.2% 13.6%
2054 11.3% 13.7%
2053 11.3% 13.8%
2052 11.3% 13.8%
2051 11.3% 13.8%
2050 11.2% 13.9%
2049 11.2% 13.9%
2048 11.1% 13.9%
2047 11.1% 13.9%
2046 11% 13.9%
2045 10.9% 13.9%
2044 10.8% 13.9%
2043 10.7% 13.9%
2042 10.6% 13.9%
2041 10.5% 13.9%
2040 10.4% 14%
2039 10.3% 14%
2038 10.2% 14%
2037 10.1% 14%
2036 10.1% 14.1%
2035 10.1% 14.2%
2034 10.1% 14.3%
2033 10.1% 14.4%
2032 10.2% 14.6%
2031 10.3% 14.7%
2030 10.5% 14.9%
2029 10.6% 15.1%
2028 10.8% 15.3%
2027 11% 15.6%
2026 11.1% 15.8%
2025 11.3% 16.1%
2024 11.4% 16.2%
2023 11.6% 16.5%
2022 11.9% 16.8%
2021 12% 17%
2020 12.2% 17.2%
2019 12.4% 17.4%
2018 12.5% 17.6%
2017 12.6% 17.8%
2016 12.7% 17.9%
2015 12.8% 18%
2014 13% 18.1%
2013 13.1% 18.3%
2012 13.2% 18.4%
2011 13.3% 18.6%
2010 13.4% 18.8%
2009 13.5% 18.9%
2008 13.5% 19.1%
2007 13.6% 19.3%
2006 13.7% 19.4%
2005 13.8% 19.6%
2004 13.8% 19.8%
2003 13.9% 19.9%
2002 14.1% 20%
2001 14.2% 20%
2000 14.4% 20%
1999 14.6% 19.9%
1998 14.8% 19.8%
1997 15.1% 19.7%
1996 15.3% 19.6%
1995 15.6% 19.5%
1994 16% 19.4%
1993 16.4% 19.3%
1992 16.9% 19.1%
1991 17.4% 19%
1990 18% 18.9%
1989 18.8% 19%
1988 19.5% 19.1%
1987 20.3% 19.3%
1986 21% 19.6%
1985 21.7% 20%
1984 22.2% 20.4%
1983 22.6% 20.9%
1982 23.1% 21.3%
1981 23.3% 21.8%
1980 23.4% 22.2%
1979 23.7% 22.6%
1978 23.8% 22.9%
1977 23.9% 23.3%
1976 23.9% 23.5%
1975 23.8% 23.8%
1974 23.8% 24%
1973 23.6% 24.2%
1972 23.4% 24.3%
1971 23.3% 24.4%
1970 23.3% 24.5%
1969 23.4% 24.5%
1968 23.5% 24.6%
1967 23.8% 24.7%
1966 24.4% 24.7%
1965 25.1% 24.8%
1964 25.8% 24.8%
1963 26.8% 25%
1962 28% 25.2%
1961 29.1% 25.6%
1960 29.8% 25.9%

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/norway | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 16.2% in Norway in 2024, compared to 18% and 18.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Norway compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Norway

Japan
Norway
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Norway
2023 3 1
2022 5 3
2021 4 2
2020 4 2
2019 5 2
2018 5 2
2017 5 2
2016 5 2
2015 5 2
2014 5 2
2013 5 3
2012 6 3
2011 6 4
2010 6 4
2009 6 4
2008 6 5
2007 6 5
2006 7 5
2005 7 6
2004 7 6
2003 8 5
2002 8 5
2001 8 5
2000 9 5
1999 9 5
1998 10 5
1997 10 5
1996 11 6
1995 11 6
1994 11 7
1993 12 7
1992 13 8
1991 13 8
1990 14 9
1989 15 9
1988 16 9
1987 17 9
1986 18 9
1985 19 9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/norway | 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 1 deaths in Norway.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Norway

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Norway
2023 0.24% 0.24%
2022 0.24% 0.23%
2021 0.24% 0.23%
2020 0.24% 0.24%
2019 0.25% 0.24%
2018 0.25% 0.25%
2017 0.26% 0.25%
2016 0.27% 0.26%
2015 0.28% 0.27%
2014 0.29% 0.28%
2013 0.3% 0.29%
2012 0.31% 0.3%
2011 0.33% 0.31%
2010 0.33% 0.33%
2009 0.34% 0.34%
2008 0.34% 0.36%
2007 0.35% 0.37%
2006 0.36% 0.39%
2005 0.37% 0.41%
2004 0.39% 0.42%
2003 0.4% 0.44%
2002 0.41% 0.46%
2001 0.43% 0.47%
2000 0.45% 0.49%
1999 0.47% 0.5%
1998 0.5% 0.51%
1997 0.52% 0.52%
1996 0.55% 0.54%
1995 0.57% 0.57%
1994 0.59% 0.61%
1993 0.6% 0.66%
1992 0.61% 0.72%
1991 0.62% 0.79%
1990 0.63% 0.87%
1989 0.64% 0.93%
1988 0.66% 0.98%
1987 0.68% 1.01%
1986 0.71% 1.02%
1985 0.75% 1.02%
1984 0.79% 1.01%
1983 0.83% 1%
1982 0.88% 0.99%
1981 0.93% 0.99%
1980 0.99% 1.01%
1979 1.05% 1.04%
1978 1.11% 1.09%
1977 1.18% 1.15%
1976 1.25% 1.22%
1975 1.33% 1.29%
1974 1.41% 1.36%
1973 1.49% 1.43%
1972 1.57% 1.5%
1971 1.65% 1.56%
1970 1.75% 1.62%
1969 1.85% 1.69%
1968 1.96% 1.75%
1967 2.1% 1.82%
1966 2.26% 1.9%
1965 2.46% 1.97%
1964 2.7% 2.04%
1963 2.98% 2.1%
1962 3.29% 2.15%
1961 3.62% 2.21%
1960 3.97% 2.26%

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

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

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