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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Saudi Arabia

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 16.4 for Saudi Arabia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 2.28 in Saudi Arabia — 90% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia — in 1960, it was 2 and 7.63, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 92/196 for Saudi Arabia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 30.3 in Saudi Arabia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 11.1 in Saudi Arabia.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23% in Saudi Arabia.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Saudi Arabia by year

Japan
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Saudi Arabia
2023 1.2 2.28
2022 1.26 2.14
2021 1.3 2.17
2020 1.33 2.27
2019 1.36 2.49
2018 1.42 2.67
2017 1.43 2.67
2016 1.44 2.65
2015 1.45 2.63
2014 1.42 2.68
2013 1.43 2.67
2012 1.41 2.78
2011 1.39 2.8
2010 1.39 2.81
2009 1.37 2.95
2008 1.37 3.07
2007 1.34 3.19
2006 1.32 3.18
2005 1.26 3.16
2004 1.29 3.26
2003 1.29 3.47
2002 1.32 3.71
2001 1.33 3.96
2000 1.36 4.21
1999 1.34 4.35
1998 1.38 4.52
1997 1.39 4.66
1996 1.43 4.81
1995 1.42 4.99
1994 1.5 5.16
1993 1.46 5.33
1992 1.5 5.49
1991 1.53 5.64
1990 1.54 5.8
1989 1.57 5.98
1988 1.66 6.15
1987 1.69 6.34
1986 1.72 6.52
1985 1.76 6.65
1984 1.81 6.78
1983 1.8 6.88
1982 1.77 6.98
1981 1.74 7.07
1980 1.75 7.15
1979 1.77 7.23
1978 1.79 7.26
1977 1.8 7.3
1976 1.85 7.33
1975 1.91 7.37
1974 2.05 7.43
1973 2.14 7.48
1972 2.14 7.54
1971 2.16 7.56
1970 2.13 7.58
1969 2.13 7.6
1968 2.13 7.63
1967 2.23 7.66
1966 1.58 7.66
1965 2.14 7.66
1964 2.05 7.67
1963 2 7.65
1962 1.98 7.64
1961 1.96 7.63
1960 2 7.63

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/saudi-arabia | 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 2.28 in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Saudi Arabia
2023 -871,617 474,366
2022 -825,825 406,920
2021 -640,976 409,032
2020 -542,923 447,036
2019 -531,858 474,407
2018 -456,520 528,767
2017 -406,310 546,751
2016 -343,106 537,829
2015 -292,424 511,023
2014 -267,279 493,431
2013 -242,146 475,299
2012 -229,733 465,649
2011 -204,533 443,675
2010 -128,070 418,641
2009 -76,828 438,557
2008 -51,225 433,457
2007 -25,600 425,199
2006 12,785 399,333
2005 -25,554 375,938
2004 76,656 362,843
2003 114,946 364,520
2002 178,423 372,099
2001 203,438 382,153
2000 228,317 392,407
1999 202,610 390,112
1998 265,440 389,499
1997 277,325 385,033
1996 314,392 382,248
1995 276,039 380,231
1994 363,017 377,351
1993 312,073 372,621
1992 360,833 366,763
1991 396,685 361,329
1990 407,478 355,495
1989 467,662 349,399
1988 527,085 342,865
1987 598,138 333,088
1986 631,706 322,340
1985 676,687 310,558
1984 756,523 296,615
1983 775,495 280,616
1982 805,664 264,831
1981 811,861 249,156
1980 864,372 234,372
1979 950,298 220,186
1978 1,011,234 205,331
1977 1,070,397 191,103
1976 1,127,750 178,024
1975 1,204,989 166,223
1974 1,332,960 155,478
1973 1,391,449 145,450
1972 1,372,006 136,360
1971 1,331,782 127,600
1970 1,230,496 120,440
1969 1,195,962 113,859
1968 1,191,930 108,281
1967 1,258,475 103,343
1966 682,072 98,361
1965 1,126,448 93,820
1964 1,046,553 89,776
1963 987,770 85,480
1962 901,864 81,393
1961 893,522 77,743
1960 894,874 74,143

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/saudi-arabia | 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 +1.41% in Saudi Arabia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +1.57% in Saudi Arabia.

Birth rate in Japan vs Saudi Arabia by year

Japan
Saudi Arabia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Saudi Arabia
2023 6 16.4
2022 6.3 15.2
2021 6.6 15.9
2020 6.8 16.6
2019 7 18.1
2018 7.4 19.7
2017 7.6 19.8
2016 7.8 19.6
2015 8 19.4
2014 8 19.8
2013 8.2 19.7
2012 8.2 20.4
2011 8.3 20.3
2010 8.5 20.1
2009 8.5 20.8
2008 8.7 21.3
2007 8.6 21.7
2006 8.7 21.4
2005 8.4 21.1
2004 8.8 21.3
2003 8.9 22.3
2002 9.2 23.8
2001 9.3 25.5
2000 9.5 27.5
1999 9.4 28.5
1998 9.6 29.5
1997 9.5 30.3
1996 9.7 31.2
1995 9.6 32.3
1994 10 33.4
1993 9.6 34.5
1992 9.8 35.5
1991 9.9 36.7
1990 10 38
1989 10.2 39.3
1988 10.8 40.7
1987 11.1 41.9
1986 11.4 43.1
1985 11.9 44.2
1984 12.5 45
1983 12.7 45.6
1982 12.8 46.1
1981 13 46.6
1980 13.6 47.1
1979 14.2 47.5
1978 14.9 47.5
1977 15.5 47.5
1976 16.3 47.6
1975 17.1 47.7
1974 18.6 47.8
1973 19.4 48
1972 19.3 48.3
1971 19.2 48.4
1970 18.8 48.7
1969 18.5 48.9
1968 18.6 49.3
1967 19.4 49.8
1966 13.7 50.1
1965 18.6 50.4
1964 17.7 50.8
1963 17.3 51
1962 17 51.1
1961 16.9 51.4
1960 17.2 51.5

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 16.4 in Saudi Arabia, compared with 17.2 and 51.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Saudi Arabia
Fertility rate 1.2 2.28
Fertility rate rank 183/196 83/196
Birth rate 6 16.4
Birth rate rank 192/196 92/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +474,366
Natural population change rank 195/196 38/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +1.41%
Population growth -0.43% +4.74%
Population growth rank 185/197 4/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 30.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 10.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 113.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 45.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 23%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 32.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 94.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.3%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.49%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.62%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 79.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Saudi Arabia
2100 11.5% 17.3%
2099 11.5% 17.3%
2098 11.5% 17.3%
2097 11.5% 17.3%
2096 11.6% 17.3%
2095 11.6% 17.3%
2094 11.6% 17.4%
2093 11.7% 17.4%
2092 11.7% 17.4%
2091 11.8% 17.4%
2090 11.8% 17.4%
2089 11.8% 17.5%
2088 11.8% 17.5%
2087 11.9% 17.5%
2086 11.9% 17.6%
2085 11.8% 17.6%
2084 11.8% 17.7%
2083 11.8% 17.7%
2082 11.8% 17.7%
2081 11.7% 17.8%
2080 11.6% 17.8%
2079 11.6% 17.9%
2078 11.5% 17.9%
2077 11.4% 18%
2076 11.3% 18%
2075 11.2% 18.1%
2074 11.1% 18.2%
2073 11.1% 18.2%
2072 11% 18.3%
2071 10.9% 18.3%
2070 10.9% 18.4%
2069 10.8% 18.4%
2068 10.8% 18.5%
2067 10.8% 18.6%
2066 10.8% 18.6%
2065 10.8% 18.7%
2064 10.8% 18.7%
2063 10.8% 18.8%
2062 10.9% 18.9%
2061 10.9% 19%
2060 11% 19%
2059 11% 19.1%
2058 11.1% 19.2%
2057 11.1% 19.3%
2056 11.2% 19.4%
2055 11.2% 19.5%
2054 11.3% 19.6%
2053 11.3% 19.8%
2052 11.3% 19.9%
2051 11.3% 20%
2050 11.2% 20.1%
2049 11.2% 20.3%
2048 11.1% 20.4%
2047 11.1% 20.6%
2046 11% 20.7%
2045 10.9% 20.9%
2044 10.8% 21.1%
2043 10.7% 21.2%
2042 10.6% 21.4%
2041 10.5% 21.6%
2040 10.4% 21.8%
2039 10.3% 22%
2038 10.2% 22.1%
2037 10.1% 22.1%
2036 10.1% 22.2%
2035 10.1% 22.2%
2034 10.1% 22.3%
2033 10.1% 22.4%
2032 10.2% 22.5%
2031 10.3% 22.7%
2030 10.5% 22.8%
2029 10.6% 23%
2028 10.8% 23.2%
2027 11% 23.3%
2026 11.1% 23.5%
2025 11.3% 23.7%
2024 11.4% 23.8%
2023 11.6% 24.1%
2022 11.9% 24.6%
2021 12% 25.2%
2020 12.2% 25.5%
2019 12.4% 25.8%
2018 12.5% 25.7%
2017 12.6% 25.2%
2016 12.7% 24.9%
2015 12.8% 25.1%
2014 13% 25.4%
2013 13.1% 25.8%
2012 13.2% 26.3%
2011 13.3% 26.9%
2010 13.4% 27.6%
2009 13.5% 28.5%
2008 13.5% 29.5%
2007 13.6% 30.6%
2006 13.7% 31.9%
2005 13.8% 33.2%
2004 13.8% 34.5%
2003 13.9% 35.7%
2002 14.1% 36.8%
2001 14.2% 37.7%
2000 14.4% 38.3%
1999 14.6% 38.9%
1998 14.8% 39.5%
1997 15.1% 40.1%
1996 15.3% 40.7%
1995 15.6% 41.2%
1994 16% 41.7%
1993 16.4% 42.1%
1992 16.9% 42.4%
1991 17.4% 42.7%
1990 18% 43%
1989 18.8% 43.2%
1988 19.5% 43.3%
1987 20.3% 43.4%
1986 21% 43.5%
1985 21.7% 43.6%
1984 22.2% 43.6%
1983 22.6% 43.7%
1982 23.1% 43.8%
1981 23.3% 43.9%
1980 23.4% 44.1%
1979 23.7% 44.2%
1978 23.8% 44.3%
1977 23.9% 44.5%
1976 23.9% 44.6%
1975 23.8% 44.8%
1974 23.8% 45%
1973 23.6% 45.2%
1972 23.4% 45.3%
1971 23.3% 45.5%
1970 23.3% 45.5%
1969 23.4% 45.5%
1968 23.5% 45.4%
1967 23.8% 45.3%
1966 24.4% 45.1%
1965 25.1% 44.8%
1964 25.8% 44.6%
1963 26.8% 44.3%
1962 28% 43.9%
1961 29.1% 43.6%
1960 29.8% 43.4%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 23.8% in Saudi Arabia in 2024, compared to 18% and 43% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Saudi Arabia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Saudi Arabia

Japan
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Saudi Arabia
2023 3 7
2022 5 9
2021 4 12
2020 4 11
2019 5 8
2018 5 8
2017 5 8
2016 5 8
2015 5 8
2014 5 8
2013 5 9
2012 6 9
2011 6 10
2010 6 11
2009 6 11
2008 6 12
2007 6 13
2006 7 14
2005 7 15
2004 7 16
2003 8 16
2002 8 18
2001 8 19
2000 9 20
1999 9 21
1998 10 22
1997 10 23
1996 11 23
1995 11 24
1994 11 25
1993 12 26
1992 13 27
1991 13 29
1990 14 30
1989 15 32
1988 16 34
1987 17 36
1986 18 38
1985 19 40

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/saudi-arabia | 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 7 deaths in Saudi Arabia.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Saudi Arabia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Saudi Arabia
2023 0.24% 0.62%
2022 0.24% 0.64%
2021 0.24% 0.66%
2020 0.24% 0.69%
2019 0.25% 0.72%
2018 0.25% 0.76%
2017 0.26% 0.8%
2016 0.27% 0.85%
2015 0.28% 0.9%
2014 0.29% 0.96%
2013 0.3% 1.02%
2012 0.31% 1.08%
2011 0.33% 1.15%
2010 0.33% 1.22%
2009 0.34% 1.3%
2008 0.34% 1.38%
2007 0.35% 1.47%
2006 0.36% 1.56%
2005 0.37% 1.65%
2004 0.39% 1.75%
2003 0.4% 1.85%
2002 0.41% 1.96%
2001 0.43% 2.08%
2000 0.45% 2.21%
1999 0.47% 2.35%
1998 0.5% 2.5%
1997 0.52% 2.67%
1996 0.55% 2.86%
1995 0.57% 3.06%
1994 0.59% 3.29%
1993 0.6% 3.54%
1992 0.61% 3.81%
1991 0.62% 4.11%
1990 0.63% 4.44%
1989 0.64% 4.8%
1988 0.66% 5.19%
1987 0.68% 5.62%
1986 0.71% 6.07%
1985 0.75% 6.55%
1984 0.79% 7.04%
1983 0.83% 7.56%
1982 0.88% 8.12%
1981 0.93% 8.71%
1980 0.99% 9.34%
1979 1.05% 9.99%
1978 1.11% 10.7%
1977 1.18% 11.4%
1976 1.25% 12.2%
1975 1.33% 13.1%
1974 1.41% 14%
1973 1.49% 14.9%
1972 1.57% 16%
1971 1.65% -
1970 1.75% -
1969 1.85% -
1968 1.96% -
1967 2.1% -
1966 2.26% -
1965 2.46% -
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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.62% in Saudi Arabia. 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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