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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Sao Tome and Principe

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.2 for Sao Tome and Principe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe — 203.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 41.6% in Sao Tome and Principe — in 1960, it was 2 and 6.24, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 39/196 for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.7 years in Japan, compared to 19.4 years in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 28.4 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 86.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.2% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Japan
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Sao Tome
2023 1.2 3.64
2022 1.26 3.7
2021 1.3 3.76
2020 1.33 3.83
2019 1.36 3.9
2018 1.42 3.98
2017 1.43 4.07
2016 1.44 4.2
2015 1.45 4.35
2014 1.42 4.49
2013 1.43 4.58
2012 1.41 4.66
2011 1.39 4.72
2010 1.39 4.77
2009 1.37 4.84
2008 1.37 4.91
2007 1.34 4.96
2006 1.32 4.93
2005 1.26 4.94
2004 1.29 4.96
2003 1.29 5.01
2002 1.32 5.06
2001 1.33 5.1
2000 1.36 5.16
1999 1.34 5.23
1998 1.38 5.3
1997 1.39 5.4
1996 1.43 5.47
1995 1.42 5.55
1994 1.5 5.56
1993 1.46 5.64
1992 1.5 5.7
1991 1.53 5.77
1990 1.54 5.83
1989 1.57 5.88
1988 1.66 5.94
1987 1.69 5.99
1986 1.72 6.05
1985 1.76 6.1
1984 1.81 6.16
1983 1.8 6.22
1982 1.77 6.28
1981 1.74 6.33
1980 1.75 6.39
1979 1.77 6.43
1978 1.79 6.47
1977 1.8 6.5
1976 1.85 6.52
1975 1.91 6.53
1974 2.05 6.53
1973 2.14 6.53
1972 2.14 6.51
1971 2.16 6.49
1970 2.13 6.47
1969 2.13 6.44
1968 2.13 6.42
1967 2.23 6.39
1966 1.58 6.37
1965 2.14 6.35
1964 2.05 6.33
1963 2 6.31
1962 1.98 6.28
1961 1.96 6.26
1960 2 6.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Japan vs Sao Tome and Principe population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Japan
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Sao Tome
2023 -871,617 5,221
2022 -825,825 5,102
2021 -640,976 4,954
2020 -542,923 4,874
2019 -531,858 4,932
2018 -456,520 4,957
2017 -406,310 5,007
2016 -343,106 5,125
2015 -292,424 5,269
2014 -267,279 5,381
2013 -242,146 5,449
2012 -229,733 5,501
2011 -204,533 5,445
2010 -128,070 5,391
2009 -76,828 5,349
2008 -51,225 5,297
2007 -25,600 5,226
2006 12,785 5,057
2005 -25,554 4,897
2004 76,656 4,810
2003 114,946 4,702
2002 178,423 4,591
2001 203,438 4,471
2000 228,317 4,334
1999 202,610 4,221
1998 265,440 4,120
1997 277,325 4,041
1996 314,392 3,993
1995 276,039 3,948
1994 363,017 3,860
1993 312,073 3,841
1992 360,833 3,822
1991 396,685 3,801
1990 407,478 3,719
1989 467,662 3,576
1988 527,085 3,544
1987 598,138 3,440
1986 631,706 3,180
1985 676,687 3,242
1984 756,523 3,163
1983 775,495 3,100
1982 805,664 3,047
1981 811,861 3,015
1980 864,372 2,965
1979 950,298 2,893
1978 1,011,234 2,800
1977 1,070,397 2,705
1976 1,127,750 2,608
1975 1,204,989 2,515
1974 1,332,960 2,422
1973 1,391,449 2,329
1972 1,372,006 2,232
1971 1,331,782 2,127
1970 1,230,496 1,980
1969 1,195,962 1,862
1968 1,191,930 1,767
1967 1,258,475 1,693
1966 682,072 1,642
1965 1,126,448 1,611
1964 1,046,553 1,600
1963 987,770 1,609
1962 901,864 1,625
1961 893,522 1,657
1960 894,874 1,547

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 +2.26% in Sao Tome and Principe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +2.4% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Birth rate in Japan vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Japan
Sao Tome and Principe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Sao Tome
2023 6 28.2
2022 6.3 28.3
2021 6.6 28.5
2020 6.8 28.6
2019 7 29.2
2018 7.4 29.8
2017 7.6 30.6
2016 7.8 31.7
2015 8 33
2014 8 34.3
2013 8.2 35.4
2012 8.2 36.4
2011 8.3 36.8
2010 8.5 37.3
2009 8.5 37.9
2008 8.7 38.5
2007 8.6 38.9
2006 8.7 38.9
2005 8.4 39
2004 8.8 39.2
2003 8.9 39.6
2002 9.2 39.8
2001 9.3 40
2000 9.5 39.7
1999 9.4 39.4
1998 9.6 39.2
1997 9.5 39.2
1996 9.7 39.3
1995 9.6 39.5
1994 10 39.4
1993 9.6 39.8
1992 9.8 40.2
1991 9.9 40.7
1990 10 40.7
1989 10.2 40.9
1988 10.8 40.9
1987 11.1 41
1986 11.4 41
1985 11.9 41
1984 12.5 41.1
1983 12.7 41.2
1982 12.8 41.3
1981 13 41.5
1980 13.6 41.6
1979 14.2 41.6
1978 14.9 41.4
1977 15.5 41.3
1976 16.3 41.1
1975 17.1 40.9
1974 18.6 40.6
1973 19.4 40.3
1972 19.3 39.9
1971 19.2 39.5
1970 18.8 38.8
1969 18.5 38.2
1968 18.6 37.8
1967 19.4 37.7
1966 13.7 38
1965 18.6 38.6
1964 17.7 39.7
1963 17.3 41.1
1962 17 42.7
1961 16.9 44.6
1960 17.2 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 28.2 in Sao Tome and Principe, compared with 17.2 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Sao Tome
Fertility rate 1.2 3.64
Fertility rate rank 183/196 41/196
Birth rate 6 28.2
Birth rate rank 192/196 39/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +5,221
Natural population change rank 195/196 126/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +2.26%
Population growth -0.43% +2.02%
Population growth rank 185/197 49/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years 19.4 years
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 82.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 169.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 47.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 25.2%
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% 96.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.08%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.68%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.94%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 1.39%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 70.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Sao Tome
2100 11.5% 19.5%
2099 11.5% 19.6%
2098 11.5% 19.8%
2097 11.5% 19.9%
2096 11.6% 20%
2095 11.6% 20.2%
2094 11.6% 20.3%
2093 11.7% 20.4%
2092 11.7% 20.6%
2091 11.8% 20.7%
2090 11.8% 20.9%
2089 11.8% 21.1%
2088 11.8% 21.2%
2087 11.9% 21.4%
2086 11.9% 21.6%
2085 11.8% 21.8%
2084 11.8% 22%
2083 11.8% 22.2%
2082 11.8% 22.4%
2081 11.7% 22.6%
2080 11.6% 22.9%
2079 11.6% 23.1%
2078 11.5% 23.3%
2077 11.4% 23.5%
2076 11.3% 23.7%
2075 11.2% 24%
2074 11.1% 24.2%
2073 11.1% 24.4%
2072 11% 24.6%
2071 10.9% 24.8%
2070 10.9% 25%
2069 10.8% 25.2%
2068 10.8% 25.4%
2067 10.8% 25.6%
2066 10.8% 25.9%
2065 10.8% 26.1%
2064 10.8% 26.3%
2063 10.8% 26.5%
2062 10.9% 26.8%
2061 10.9% 27%
2060 11% 27.3%
2059 11% 27.5%
2058 11.1% 27.8%
2057 11.1% 28.1%
2056 11.2% 28.4%
2055 11.2% 28.7%
2054 11.3% 29%
2053 11.3% 29.4%
2052 11.3% 29.7%
2051 11.3% 30.1%
2050 11.2% 30.4%
2049 11.2% 30.8%
2048 11.1% 31.1%
2047 11.1% 31.5%
2046 11% 31.8%
2045 10.9% 32.1%
2044 10.8% 32.5%
2043 10.7% 32.8%
2042 10.6% 33.1%
2041 10.5% 33.4%
2040 10.4% 33.6%
2039 10.3% 33.9%
2038 10.2% 34.1%
2037 10.1% 34.4%
2036 10.1% 34.6%
2035 10.1% 34.7%
2034 10.1% 34.9%
2033 10.1% 35.1%
2032 10.2% 35.3%
2031 10.3% 35.5%
2030 10.5% 35.8%
2029 10.6% 36.1%
2028 10.8% 36.6%
2027 11% 37%
2026 11.1% 37.3%
2025 11.3% 37.6%
2024 11.4% 37.8%
2023 11.6% 38.3%
2022 11.9% 38.8%
2021 12% 39.4%
2020 12.2% 39.9%
2019 12.4% 40.5%
2018 12.5% 40.9%
2017 12.6% 41.4%
2016 12.7% 41.7%
2015 12.8% 41.9%
2014 13% 42%
2013 13.1% 42%
2012 13.2% 42%
2011 13.3% 42%
2010 13.4% 42.1%
2009 13.5% 42.1%
2008 13.5% 42.1%
2007 13.6% 42%
2006 13.7% 42%
2005 13.8% 42%
2004 13.8% 42.1%
2003 13.9% 42.2%
2002 14.1% 42.3%
2001 14.2% 42.5%
2000 14.4% 42.8%
1999 14.6% 43.4%
1998 14.8% 43.9%
1997 15.1% 44.3%
1996 15.3% 44.7%
1995 15.6% 44.9%
1994 16% 45.1%
1993 16.4% 45.2%
1992 16.9% 45.2%
1991 17.4% 45.1%
1990 18% 45.1%
1989 18.8% 45%
1988 19.5% 45%
1987 20.3% 44.9%
1986 21% 44.7%
1985 21.7% 44.5%
1984 22.2% 44.4%
1983 22.6% 44.5%
1982 23.1% 44.5%
1981 23.3% 44.7%
1980 23.4% 44.9%
1979 23.7% 45.1%
1978 23.8% 45.2%
1977 23.9% 45.3%
1976 23.9% 45.4%
1975 23.8% 45.5%
1974 23.8% 45.6%
1973 23.6% 45.7%
1972 23.4% 45.9%
1971 23.3% 46.1%
1970 23.3% 46.2%
1969 23.4% 45.8%
1968 23.5% 44.9%
1967 23.8% 44%
1966 24.4% 42.9%
1965 25.1% 41.6%
1964 25.8% 40.2%
1963 26.8% 38.5%
1962 28% 36.6%
1961 29.1% 34.3%
1960 29.8% 32.9%

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 37.8% in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024, compared to 18% and 45.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Sao Tome and Principe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Sao Tome and Principe

Japan
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Sao Tome
2023 3 75
2022 5 82
2021 4 98
2020 4 92
2019 5 95
2018 5 100
2017 5 110
2016 5 119
2015 5 128
2014 5 138
2013 5 150
2012 6 158
2011 6 164
2010 6 170
2009 6 172
2008 6 174
2007 6 174
2006 7 177
2005 7 181
2004 7 177
2003 8 178
2002 8 179
2001 8 178
2000 9 180
1999 9 179
1998 10 175
1997 10 173
1996 11 171
1995 11 172
1994 11 168
1993 12 166
1992 13 164
1991 13 166
1990 14 164
1989 15 167
1988 16 157
1987 17 161
1986 18 175
1985 19 159

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 75 deaths in Sao Tome and Principe.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Sao Tome and Principe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Sao Tome
2023 0.24% 1.39%
2022 0.24% 1.46%
2021 0.24% 1.53%
2020 0.24% 1.6%
2019 0.25% 1.7%
2018 0.25% 1.81%
2017 0.26% 1.95%
2016 0.27% 2.11%
2015 0.28% 2.31%
2014 0.29% 2.54%
2013 0.3% 2.77%
2012 0.31% 3.04%
2011 0.33% 3.33%
2010 0.33% 3.63%
2009 0.34% 3.95%
2008 0.34% 4.3%
2007 0.35% 4.68%
2006 0.36% 5.11%
2005 0.37% 5.56%
2004 0.39% 6.05%
2003 0.4% 6.57%
2002 0.41% 7.1%
2001 0.43% 7.66%
2000 0.45% 8.21%
1999 0.47% 8.76%
1998 0.5% 9.26%
1997 0.52% 9.73%
1996 0.55% 10.1%
1995 0.57% 10.4%
1994 0.59% 10.7%
1993 0.6% 10.8%
1992 0.61% 10.9%
1991 0.62% 10.9%
1990 0.63% 10.8%
1989 0.64% 10.7%
1988 0.66% 10.6%
1987 0.68% 10.4%
1986 0.71% 11.4%
1985 0.75% 9.99%
1984 0.79% 9.77%
1983 0.83% 9.56%
1982 0.88% 9.37%
1981 0.93% 9.21%
1980 0.99% 9.1%
1979 1.05% 9.02%
1978 1.11% 8.96%
1977 1.18% 8.93%
1976 1.25% 8.89%
1975 1.33% 8.85%
1974 1.41% 8.79%
1973 1.49% 8.73%
1972 1.57% 8.67%
1971 1.65% 8.63%
1970 1.75% 8.64%
1969 1.85% 8.71%
1968 1.96% 8.85%
1967 2.1% 9.04%
1966 2.26% 9.29%
1965 2.46% 9.56%
1964 2.7% -
1963 2.98% -
1962 3.29% -
1961 3.62% -
1960 3.97% -

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 1.39% in Sao Tome and Principe. 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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