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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Spain

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 6.7 for Spain. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 1.12 in Spain — 6.67% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 60.8% in Spain — in 1960, it was 2 and 2.86, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 189/196 for Spain.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.7 years in Japan, compared to 31.5 years in Spain.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 32.5 in Spain.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 4.81 in Spain.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.3% in Spain.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Spain by year

Japan
Spain
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Spain
2023 1.2 1.12
2022 1.26 1.16
2021 1.3 1.18
2020 1.33 1.18
2019 1.36 1.23
2018 1.42 1.26
2017 1.43 1.31
2016 1.44 1.33
2015 1.45 1.33
2014 1.42 1.32
2013 1.43 1.27
2012 1.41 1.32
2011 1.39 1.34
2010 1.39 1.37
2009 1.37 1.38
2008 1.37 1.45
2007 1.34 1.38
2006 1.32 1.36
2005 1.26 1.33
2004 1.29 1.31
2003 1.29 1.3
2002 1.32 1.25
2001 1.33 1.23
2000 1.36 1.22
1999 1.34 1.17
1998 1.38 1.13
1997 1.39 1.15
1996 1.43 1.14
1995 1.42 1.16
1994 1.5 1.19
1993 1.46 1.26
1992 1.5 1.31
1991 1.53 1.33
1990 1.54 1.36
1989 1.57 1.4
1988 1.66 1.45
1987 1.69 1.49
1986 1.72 1.56
1985 1.76 1.64
1984 1.81 1.73
1983 1.8 1.8
1982 1.77 1.94
1981 1.74 2.04
1980 1.75 2.22
1979 1.77 2.37
1978 1.79 2.54
1977 1.8 2.65
1976 1.85 2.77
1975 1.91 2.77
1974 2.05 2.88
1973 2.14 2.84
1972 2.14 2.87
1971 2.16 2.9
1970 2.13 2.84
1969 2.13 2.86
1968 2.13 2.87
1967 2.23 2.94
1966 1.58 2.91
1965 2.14 2.94
1964 2.05 3.01
1963 2 2.88
1962 1.98 2.8
1961 1.96 2.77
1960 2 2.86

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/spain | 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 1.12 in Spain in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Spain
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Spain
2023 -871,617 -111,211
2022 -825,825 -133,801
2021 -640,976 -113,865
2020 -542,923 -151,551
2019 -531,858 -56,542
2018 -456,520 -56,139
2017 -406,310 -32,600
2016 -343,106 0
2015 -292,424 -4,642
2014 -267,279 32,522
2013 -242,146 37,284
2012 -229,733 51,450
2011 -204,533 84,137
2010 -128,070 102,469
2009 -76,828 106,635
2008 -51,225 133,267
2007 -25,600 108,545
2006 12,785 110,994
2005 -25,554 78,576
2004 76,656 85,844
2003 114,946 54,844
2002 178,423 53,861
2001 203,438 44,936
2000 228,317 36,512
1999 202,610 8,077
1998 265,440 4,022
1997 277,325 20,028
1996 314,392 11,967
1995 276,039 15,889
1994 363,017 31,639
1993 312,073 47,234
1992 360,833 62,652
1991 396,685 58,450
1990 407,478 66,075
1989 467,662 81,538
1988 527,085 100,794
1987 598,138 116,054
1986 631,706 131,188
1985 676,687 146,184
1984 756,523 172,487
1983 775,495 183,223
1982 805,664 231,714
1981 811,861 237,879
1980 864,372 281,184
1979 950,298 312,407
1978 1,011,234 339,157
1977 1,070,397 361,465
1976 1,127,750 375,834
1975 1,204,989 371,882
1974 1,332,960 396,182
1973 1,391,449 374,381
1972 1,372,006 391,030
1971 1,331,782 369,625
1970 1,230,496 378,723
1969 1,195,962 367,851
1968 1,191,930 387,423
1967 1,258,475 402,001
1966 682,072 397,084
1965 1,126,448 405,819
1964 1,046,553 429,885
1963 987,770 394,338
1962 901,864 384,690
1961 893,522 396,537
1960 894,874 398,960

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/spain | 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 -0.23% in Spain.

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

Birth rate in Japan vs Spain by year

Japan
Spain

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Spain
2023 6 6.7
2022 6.3 6.9
2021 6.6 7.1
2020 6.8 7.2
2019 7 7.6
2018 7.4 7.9
2017 7.6 8.4
2016 7.8 8.8
2015 8 9
2014 8 9.2
2013 8.2 9.1
2012 8.2 9.7
2011 8.3 10.1
2010 8.5 10.4
2009 8.5 10.6
2008 8.7 11.3
2007 8.6 10.9
2006 8.7 10.8
2005 8.4 10.6
2004 8.8 10.6
2003 8.9 10.4
2002 9.2 10.1
2001 9.3 9.9
2000 9.5 9.8
1999 9.4 9.4
1998 9.6 9.1
1997 9.5 9.2
1996 9.7 9.1
1995 9.6 9.1
1994 10 9.4
1993 9.6 9.8
1992 9.8 10.1
1991 9.9 10.2
1990 10 10.3
1989 10.2 10.5
1988 10.8 10.8
1987 11.1 11
1986 11.4 11.4
1985 11.9 11.9
1984 12.5 12.3
1983 12.7 12.7
1982 12.8 13.6
1981 13 14.1
1980 13.6 15.2
1979 14.2 16.2
1978 14.9 17.3
1977 15.5 18
1976 16.3 18.7
1975 17.1 18.7
1974 18.6 19.5
1973 19.4 19.2
1972 19.3 19.4
1971 19.2 19.6
1970 18.8 19.5
1969 18.5 19.9
1968 18.6 20.1
1967 19.4 20.7
1966 13.7 20.7
1965 18.6 21.1
1964 17.7 22
1963 17.3 21.4
1962 17 21.1
1961 16.9 21.2
1960 17.2 21.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 6.7 in Spain, compared with 17.2 and 21.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Spain
Fertility rate 1.2 1.12
Fertility rate rank 183/196 189/196
Birth rate 6 6.7
Birth rate rank 192/196 189/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 -111,211
Natural population change rank 195/196 189/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% -0.23%
Population growth -0.43% +1.03%
Population growth rank 185/197 100/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years 31.5 years
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 32.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 5.01
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 34.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 13.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 21.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 59.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.31%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 84.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Spain
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Spain
2100 11.5% 11.6%
2099 11.5% 11.6%
2098 11.5% 11.7%
2097 11.5% 11.7%
2096 11.6% 11.7%
2095 11.6% 11.8%
2094 11.6% 11.8%
2093 11.7% 11.9%
2092 11.7% 11.9%
2091 11.8% 11.9%
2090 11.8% 12%
2089 11.8% 12%
2088 11.8% 12%
2087 11.9% 12.1%
2086 11.9% 12.1%
2085 11.8% 12.1%
2084 11.8% 12%
2083 11.8% 12%
2082 11.8% 12%
2081 11.7% 11.9%
2080 11.6% 11.9%
2079 11.6% 11.8%
2078 11.5% 11.7%
2077 11.4% 11.6%
2076 11.3% 11.6%
2075 11.2% 11.5%
2074 11.1% 11.4%
2073 11.1% 11.3%
2072 11% 11.2%
2071 10.9% 11.2%
2070 10.9% 11.1%
2069 10.8% 11.1%
2068 10.8% 11%
2067 10.8% 11%
2066 10.8% 11%
2065 10.8% 11%
2064 10.8% 11%
2063 10.8% 11.1%
2062 10.9% 11.1%
2061 10.9% 11.2%
2060 11% 11.2%
2059 11% 11.3%
2058 11.1% 11.4%
2057 11.1% 11.4%
2056 11.2% 11.5%
2055 11.2% 11.5%
2054 11.3% 11.5%
2053 11.3% 11.5%
2052 11.3% 11.5%
2051 11.3% 11.5%
2050 11.2% 11.5%
2049 11.2% 11.4%
2048 11.1% 11.4%
2047 11.1% 11.3%
2046 11% 11.2%
2045 10.9% 11.1%
2044 10.8% 11.1%
2043 10.7% 11%
2042 10.6% 10.9%
2041 10.5% 10.9%
2040 10.4% 10.8%
2039 10.3% 10.8%
2038 10.2% 10.7%
2037 10.1% 10.7%
2036 10.1% 10.7%
2035 10.1% 10.7%
2034 10.1% 10.8%
2033 10.1% 10.9%
2032 10.2% 11.1%
2031 10.3% 11.3%
2030 10.5% 11.5%
2029 10.6% 11.7%
2028 10.8% 11.9%
2027 11% 12.2%
2026 11.1% 12.5%
2025 11.3% 12.8%
2024 11.4% 12.9%
2023 11.6% 13.3%
2022 11.9% 13.6%
2021 12% 13.9%
2020 12.2% 14.2%
2019 12.4% 14.4%
2018 12.5% 14.7%
2017 12.6% 14.8%
2016 12.7% 14.9%
2015 12.8% 15%
2014 13% 15.1%
2013 13.1% 15.1%
2012 13.2% 15.1%
2011 13.3% 15%
2010 13.4% 14.9%
2009 13.5% 14.8%
2008 13.5% 14.7%
2007 13.6% 14.6%
2006 13.7% 14.5%
2005 13.8% 14.5%
2004 13.8% 14.5%
2003 13.9% 14.5%
2002 14.1% 14.6%
2001 14.2% 14.7%
2000 14.4% 14.8%
1999 14.6% 15%
1998 14.8% 15.3%
1997 15.1% 15.7%
1996 15.3% 16.1%
1995 15.6% 16.6%
1994 16% 17.2%
1993 16.4% 17.8%
1992 16.9% 18.4%
1991 17.4% 19.1%
1990 18% 19.8%
1989 18.8% 20.5%
1988 19.5% 21.2%
1987 20.3% 21.9%
1986 21% 22.5%
1985 21.7% 23.2%
1984 22.2% 23.8%
1983 22.6% 24.4%
1982 23.1% 24.9%
1981 23.3% 25.5%
1980 23.4% 26%
1979 23.7% 26.4%
1978 23.8% 26.8%
1977 23.9% 27%
1976 23.9% 27.2%
1975 23.8% 27.3%
1974 23.8% 27.5%
1973 23.6% 27.7%
1972 23.4% 27.8%
1971 23.3% 27.8%
1970 23.3% 27.9%
1969 23.4% 27.8%
1968 23.5% 27.8%
1967 23.8% 27.7%
1966 24.4% 27.6%
1965 25.1% 27.5%
1964 25.8% 27.4%
1963 26.8% 27.4%
1962 28% 27.4%
1961 29.1% 27.4%
1960 29.8% 27.4%

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/spain | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 12.9% in Spain in 2024, compared to 18% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Spain compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Spain

Japan
Spain
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Spain
2023 3 3
2022 5 4
2021 4 4
2020 4 4
2019 5 3
2018 5 3
2017 5 3
2016 5 3
2015 5 4
2014 5 4
2013 5 4
2012 6 4
2011 6 4
2010 6 4
2009 6 4
2008 6 4
2007 6 4
2006 7 4
2005 7 5
2004 7 5
2003 8 4
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 6
1993 12 6
1992 13 6
1991 13 6
1990 14 6
1989 15 7
1988 16 7
1987 17 7
1986 18 7
1985 19 6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/spain | 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 3 deaths in Spain.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Spain

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Spain
2023 0.24% 0.31%
2022 0.24% 0.31%
2021 0.24% 0.31%
2020 0.24% 0.32%
2019 0.25% 0.32%
2018 0.25% 0.32%
2017 0.26% 0.32%
2016 0.27% 0.33%
2015 0.28% 0.33%
2014 0.29% 0.34%
2013 0.3% 0.35%
2012 0.31% 0.36%
2011 0.33% 0.37%
2010 0.33% 0.38%
2009 0.34% 0.4%
2008 0.34% 0.42%
2007 0.35% 0.44%
2006 0.36% 0.45%
2005 0.37% 0.47%
2004 0.39% 0.49%
2003 0.4% 0.5%
2002 0.41% 0.51%
2001 0.43% 0.53%
2000 0.45% 0.54%
1999 0.47% 0.56%
1998 0.5% 0.58%
1997 0.52% 0.61%
1996 0.55% 0.65%
1995 0.57% 0.69%
1994 0.59% 0.74%
1993 0.6% 0.79%
1992 0.61% 0.83%
1991 0.62% 0.88%
1990 0.63% 0.92%
1989 0.64% 0.95%
1988 0.66% 0.99%
1987 0.68% 1.03%
1986 0.71% 1.07%
1985 0.75% 1.11%
1984 0.79% 1.17%
1983 0.83% 1.23%
1982 0.88% 1.3%
1981 0.93% 1.38%
1980 0.99% 1.49%
1979 1.05% 1.61%
1978 1.11% 1.74%
1977 1.18% 1.87%
1976 1.25% 2.02%
1975 1.33% 2.17%
1974 1.41% 2.33%
1973 1.49% 2.52%
1972 1.57% 2.72%
1971 1.65% 2.94%
1970 1.75% 3.16%
1969 1.85% 3.39%
1968 1.96% 3.61%
1967 2.1% 3.83%
1966 2.26% 4.03%
1965 2.46% 4.23%
1964 2.7% 4.45%
1963 2.98% 4.68%
1962 3.29% 4.94%
1961 3.62% 5.2%
1960 3.97% 5.47%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.31% in Spain. 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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