Fertility & birth rates in Japan and South Korea

Fertility rate in Japan vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	South Korea
2023	1.2	0.72
2022	1.26	0.78
2021	1.3	0.81
2020	1.33	0.84
2019	1.36	0.92
2018	1.42	0.98
2017	1.43	1.05
2016	1.44	1.17
2015	1.45	1.24
2014	1.42	1.21
2013	1.43	1.19
2012	1.41	1.3
2011	1.39	1.24
2010	1.39	1.23
2009	1.37	1.15
2008	1.37	1.19
2007	1.34	1.26
2006	1.32	1.13
2005	1.26	1.09
2004	1.29	1.16
2003	1.29	1.19
2002	1.32	1.18
2001	1.33	1.31
2000	1.36	1.48
1999	1.34	1.43
1998	1.38	1.46
1997	1.39	1.54
1996	1.43	1.57
1995	1.42	1.63
1994	1.5	1.66
1993	1.46	1.65
1992	1.5	1.76
1991	1.53	1.71
1990	1.54	1.57
1989	1.57	1.56
1988	1.66	1.55
1987	1.69	1.53
1986	1.72	1.58
1985	1.76	1.66
1984	1.81	1.74
1983	1.8	2.06
1982	1.77	2.39
1981	1.74	2.57
1980	1.75	2.82
1979	1.77	2.9
1978	1.79	2.64
1977	1.8	2.99
1976	1.85	3
1975	1.91	3.43
1974	2.05	3.77
1973	2.14	4.07
1972	2.14	4.12
1971	2.16	4.54
1970	2.13	4.53
1969	2.13	4.45
1968	2.13	4.51
1967	2.23	4.62
1966	1.58	4.78
1965	2.14	4.89
1964	2.05	5.07
1963	2	5.33
1962	1.98	5.56
1961	1.96	5.8
1960	2	5.99

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	South Korea
2023	-871,617	-77,569
2022	-825,825	-124,014
2021	-640,976	-56,947
2020	-542,923	-31,101
2019	-531,858	10,353
2018	-456,520	30,951
2017	-406,310	71,907
2016	-343,106	122,923
2015	-292,424	163,248
2014	-267,279	167,464
2013	-242,146	166,415
2012	-229,733	215,859
2011	-204,533	214,728
2010	-128,070	213,083
2009	-76,828	197,231
2008	-51,225	215,841
2007	-25,600	248,286
2006	12,785	203,441
2005	-25,554	187,920
2004	76,656	225,988
2003	114,946	244,251
2002	178,423	247,752
2001	203,438	312,643
2000	228,317	390,167
1999	202,610	368,272
1998	265,440	393,436
1997	277,325	422,773
1996	314,392	446,142
1995	276,039	468,967
1994	363,017	473,200
1993	312,073	477,302
1992	360,833	494,352
1991	396,685	467,594
1990	407,478	411,546
1989	467,662	403,266
1988	527,085	399,297
1987	598,138	378,758
1986	631,706	395,651
1985	676,687	416,219
1984	756,523	436,384
1983	775,495	514,844
1982	805,664	605,626
1981	811,861	631,189
1980	864,372	583,294
1979	950,298	623,068
1978	1,011,234	499,084
1977	1,070,397	578,947
1976	1,127,750	530,558
1975	1,204,989	603,300
1974	1,332,960	673,030
1973	1,391,449	699,115
1972	1,372,006	740,469
1971	1,331,782	789,185
1970	1,230,496	747,987
1969	1,195,962	694,227
1968	1,191,930	684,487
1967	1,258,475	692,169
1966	682,072	623,534
1965	1,126,448	641,090
1964	1,046,553	655,501
1963	987,770	685,824
1962	901,864	712,590
1961	893,522	730,173
1960	894,874	728,010

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 South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Japan vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	South Korea
2023	6	4.5
2022	6.3	4.9
2021	6.6	5.1
2020	6.8	5.3
2019	7	5.9
2018	7.4	6.4
2017	7.6	7
2016	7.8	7.9
2015	8	8.6
2014	8	8.6
2013	8.2	8.6
2012	8.2	9.6
2011	8.3	9.4
2010	8.5	9.4
2009	8.5	9
2008	8.7	9.4
2007	8.6	10.1
2006	8.7	9.2
2005	8.4	9
2004	8.8	9.8
2003	8.9	10.2
2002	9.2	10.3
2001	9.3	11.7
2000	9.5	13.5
1999	9.4	13.2
1998	9.6	13.7
1997	9.5	14.5
1996	9.7	15
1995	9.6	15.7
1994	10	16
1993	9.6	16
1992	9.8	16.7
1991	9.9	16.4
1990	10	15.2
1989	10.2	15.1
1988	10.8	15.1
1987	11.1	15
1986	11.4	15.4
1985	11.9	16.1
1984	12.5	16.7
1983	12.7	19.3
1982	12.8	21.6
1981	13	22.4
1980	13.6	22.6
1979	14.2	23
1978	14.9	20.3
1977	15.5	22.7
1976	16.3	22.2
1975	17.1	24.8
1974	18.6	26.6
1973	19.4	28.3
1972	19.3	28.4
1971	19.2	31.2
1970	18.8	31.2
1969	18.5	30.3
1968	18.6	30.7
1967	19.4	31.5
1966	13.7	32.8
1965	18.6	33.8
1964	17.7	35.2
1963	17.3	37.2
1962	17	39
1961	16.9	40.9
1960	17.2	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 17.2 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	South Korea
2100	11.5%	8.61%
2099	11.5%	8.6%
2098	11.5%	8.59%
2097	11.5%	8.59%
2096	11.6%	8.59%
2095	11.6%	8.6%
2094	11.6%	8.61%
2093	11.7%	8.62%
2092	11.7%	8.62%
2091	11.8%	8.62%
2090	11.8%	8.62%
2089	11.8%	8.6%
2088	11.8%	8.58%
2087	11.9%	8.55%
2086	11.9%	8.5%
2085	11.8%	8.45%
2084	11.8%	8.39%
2083	11.8%	8.33%
2082	11.8%	8.26%
2081	11.7%	8.18%
2080	11.6%	8.09%
2079	11.6%	8%
2078	11.5%	7.91%
2077	11.4%	7.82%
2076	11.3%	7.72%
2075	11.2%	7.63%
2074	11.1%	7.53%
2073	11.1%	7.44%
2072	11%	7.35%
2071	10.9%	7.28%
2070	10.9%	7.21%
2069	10.8%	7.16%
2068	10.8%	7.13%
2067	10.8%	7.11%
2066	10.8%	7.11%
2065	10.8%	7.14%
2064	10.8%	7.18%
2063	10.8%	7.23%
2062	10.9%	7.3%
2061	10.9%	7.37%
2060	11%	7.45%
2059	11%	7.52%
2058	11.1%	7.6%
2057	11.1%	7.66%
2056	11.2%	7.72%
2055	11.2%	7.76%
2054	11.3%	7.79%
2053	11.3%	7.81%
2052	11.3%	7.83%
2051	11.3%	7.83%
2050	11.2%	7.83%
2049	11.2%	7.82%
2048	11.1%	7.81%
2047	11.1%	7.8%
2046	11%	7.79%
2045	10.9%	7.78%
2044	10.8%	7.78%
2043	10.7%	7.77%
2042	10.6%	7.76%
2041	10.5%	7.74%
2040	10.4%	7.72%
2039	10.3%	7.7%
2038	10.2%	7.66%
2037	10.1%	7.65%
2036	10.1%	7.65%
2035	10.1%	7.66%
2034	10.1%	7.73%
2033	10.1%	7.85%
2032	10.2%	8.02%
2031	10.3%	8.28%
2030	10.5%	8.59%
2029	10.6%	8.9%
2028	10.8%	9.23%
2027	11%	9.62%
2026	11.1%	10%
2025	11.3%	10.4%
2024	11.4%	10.6%
2023	11.6%	11%
2022	11.9%	11.4%
2021	12%	11.8%
2020	12.2%	12.1%
2019	12.4%	12.4%
2018	12.5%	12.7%
2017	12.6%	13%
2016	12.7%	13.4%
2015	12.8%	13.8%
2014	13%	14.2%
2013	13.1%	14.7%
2012	13.2%	15.2%
2011	13.3%	15.8%
2010	13.4%	16.4%
2009	13.5%	16.9%
2008	13.5%	17.5%
2007	13.6%	18.1%
2006	13.7%	18.7%
2005	13.8%	19.2%
2004	13.8%	19.7%
2003	13.9%	20.1%
2002	14.1%	20.5%
2001	14.2%	20.8%
2000	14.4%	21%
1999	14.6%	21.2%
1998	14.8%	21.6%
1997	15.1%	22%
1996	15.3%	22.5%
1995	15.6%	23.1%
1994	16%	23.7%
1993	16.4%	24.2%
1992	16.9%	24.7%
1991	17.4%	25.2%
1990	18%	25.8%
1989	18.8%	26.5%
1988	19.5%	27.3%
1987	20.3%	28.2%
1986	21%	29.2%
1985	21.7%	30.2%
1984	22.2%	31.2%
1983	22.6%	32%
1982	23.1%	32.7%
1981	23.3%	33.3%
1980	23.4%	34%
1979	23.7%	34.8%
1978	23.8%	35.6%
1977	23.9%	36.5%
1976	23.9%	37.5%
1975	23.8%	38.5%
1974	23.8%	39.5%
1973	23.6%	40.3%
1972	23.4%	41%
1971	23.3%	41.5%
1970	23.3%	42.1%
1969	23.4%	42.7%
1968	23.5%	43.1%
1967	23.8%	43.3%
1966	24.4%	43.5%
1965	25.1%	43.3%
1964	25.8%	43.1%
1963	26.8%	42.7%
1962	28%	42.3%
1961	29.1%	41.8%
1960	29.8%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 18% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs South Korea

Chart Table

Japan

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Japan	South Korea
2023	3	4
2022	5	7
2021	4	5
2020	4	12
2019	5	5
2018	5	5
2017	5	6
2016	5	6
2015	5	6
2014	5	7
2013	5	7
2012	6	8
2011	6	8
2010	6	8
2009	6	9
2008	6	9
2007	6	10
2006	7	10
2005	7	11
2004	7	12
2003	8	13
2002	8	13
2001	8	14
2000	9	15
1999	9	17
1998	10	18
1997	10	19
1996	11	20
1995	11	22
1994	11	23
1993	12	24
1992	13	26
1991	13	28
1990	14	28
1989	15	29
1988	16	31
1987	17	34
1986	18	35
1985	19	38

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 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	South Korea
2023	0.24%	0.28%
2022	0.24%	0.28%
2021	0.24%	0.29%
2020	0.24%	0.3%
2019	0.25%	0.31%
2018	0.25%	0.32%
2017	0.26%	0.33%
2016	0.27%	0.34%
2015	0.28%	0.35%
2014	0.29%	0.36%
2013	0.3%	0.37%
2012	0.31%	0.38%
2011	0.33%	0.4%
2010	0.33%	0.41%
2009	0.34%	0.43%
2008	0.34%	0.45%
2007	0.35%	0.48%
2006	0.36%	0.52%
2005	0.37%	0.56%
2004	0.39%	0.6%
2003	0.4%	0.64%
2002	0.41%	0.68%
2001	0.43%	0.71%
2000	0.45%	0.75%
1999	0.47%	0.8%
1998	0.5%	0.85%
1997	0.52%	0.91%
1996	0.55%	0.98%
1995	0.57%	1.05%
1994	0.59%	1.14%
1993	0.6%	1.23%
1992	0.61%	1.33%
1991	0.62%	1.44%
1990	0.63%	1.57%
1989	0.64%	1.71%
1988	0.66%	1.87%
1987	0.68%	2.05%
1986	0.71%	2.25%
1985	0.75%	2.46%
1984	0.79%	2.7%
1983	0.83%	2.93%
1982	0.88%	3.17%
1981	0.93%	3.4%
1980	0.99%	3.63%
1979	1.05%	3.84%
1978	1.11%	4.04%
1977	1.18%	4.23%
1976	1.25%	4.42%
1975	1.33%	4.61%
1974	1.41%	4.82%
1973	1.49%	5.07%
1972	1.57%	5.36%
1971	1.65%	5.71%
1970	1.75%	6.12%
1969	1.85%	6.59%
1968	1.96%	7.1%
1967	2.1%	7.62%
1966	2.26%	8.16%
1965	2.46%	8.68%
1964	2.7%	9.18%
1963	2.98%	9.67%
1962	3.29%	10.1%
1961	3.62%	10.6%
1960	3.97%	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.