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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Sri Lanka

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 11.2 for Sri Lanka. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 1.97 in Sri Lanka — 64.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 40% in Japan and by 63.1% in Sri Lanka — in 1960, it was 2 and 5.35, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 125/196 for Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.7 years in Japan, compared to 25.6 years in Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 29.7 in Sri Lanka.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 15.1 in Sri Lanka.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Sri Lanka.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Sri Lanka by year

Japan
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Sri Lanka
2023 1.2 1.97
2022 1.26 1.98
2021 1.3 2
2020 1.33 2.01
2019 1.36 2.02
2018 1.42 2.03
2017 1.43 2.04
2016 1.44 2.06
2015 1.45 2.09
2014 1.42 2.13
2013 1.43 2.18
2012 1.41 2.17
2011 1.39 2.14
2010 1.39 2.13
2009 1.37 2.18
2008 1.37 2.23
2007 1.34 2.3
2006 1.32 2.29
2005 1.26 2.26
2004 1.29 2.27
2003 1.29 2.3
2002 1.32 2.31
2001 1.33 2.28
2000 1.36 2.21
1999 1.34 2.14
1998 1.38 2.14
1997 1.39 2.22
1996 1.43 2.29
1995 1.42 2.35
1994 1.5 2.4
1993 1.46 2.44
1992 1.5 2.49
1991 1.53 2.51
1990 1.54 2.54
1989 1.57 2.58
1988 1.66 2.57
1987 1.69 2.64
1986 1.72 2.74
1985 1.76 2.9
1984 1.81 3.01
1983 1.8 3.11
1982 1.77 3.32
1981 1.74 3.65
1980 1.75 3.73
1979 1.77 3.82
1978 1.79 3.81
1977 1.8 3.74
1976 1.85 3.78
1975 1.91 3.82
1974 2.05 3.86
1973 2.14 4
1972 2.14 4.16
1971 2.16 4.27
1970 2.13 4.39
1969 2.13 4.5
1968 2.13 4.66
1967 2.23 4.79
1966 1.58 4.83
1965 2.14 4.93
1964 2.05 5.06
1963 2 5.12
1962 1.98 5.18
1961 1.96 5.24
1960 2 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | 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 1.97 in Sri Lanka in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Sri Lanka
2023 -871,617 66,111
2022 -825,825 95,378
2021 -640,976 121,858
2020 -542,923 170,968
2019 -531,858 172,243
2018 -456,520 183,610
2017 -406,310 187,993
2016 -343,106 194,232
2015 -292,424 201,815
2014 -267,279 211,541
2013 -242,146 221,021
2012 -229,733 229,138
2011 -204,533 224,461
2010 -128,070 224,325
2009 -76,828 200,175
2008 -51,225 232,225
2007 -25,600 248,287
2006 12,785 248,706
2005 -25,554 248,683
2004 76,656 212,527
2003 114,946 252,008
2002 178,423 252,840
2001 203,438 244,377
2000 228,317 227,060
1999 202,610 206,876
1998 265,440 201,059
1997 277,325 208,193
1996 314,392 215,290
1995 276,039 221,957
1994 363,017 228,904
1993 312,073 226,257
1992 360,833 222,230
1991 396,685 218,117
1990 407,478 224,454
1989 467,662 212,401
1988 527,085 219,184
1987 598,138 226,414
1986 631,706 233,782
1985 676,687 247,836
1984 756,523 263,175
1983 775,495 277,768
1982 805,664 300,030
1981 811,861 328,096
1980 864,372 328,155
1979 950,298 329,791
1978 1,011,234 317,055
1977 1,070,397 300,038
1976 1,127,750 291,816
1975 1,204,989 282,496
1974 1,332,960 275,521
1973 1,391,449 278,577
1972 1,372,006 282,494
1971 1,331,782 281,200
1970 1,230,496 286,719
1969 1,195,962 286,218
1968 1,191,930 286,642
1967 1,258,475 284,738
1966 682,072 275,549
1965 1,126,448 272,422
1964 1,046,553 269,584
1963 987,770 262,880
1962 901,864 256,719
1961 893,522 251,087
1960 894,874 247,631

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | 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 +0.3% in Sri Lanka.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.75% in Sri Lanka.

Birth rate in Japan vs Sri Lanka by year

Japan
Sri Lanka

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Sri Lanka
2023 6 11.2
2022 6.3 12.4
2021 6.6 12.9
2020 6.8 13.8
2019 7 14.6
2018 7.4 15.2
2017 7.6 15.4
2016 7.8 15.7
2015 8 16
2014 8 16.5
2013 8.2 17
2012 8.2 17.1
2011 8.3 17.1
2010 8.5 17.1
2009 8.5 17.6
2008 8.7 18.2
2007 8.6 18.8
2006 8.7 18.9
2005 8.4 18.7
2004 8.8 18.8
2003 8.9 19.1
2002 9.2 19.2
2001 9.3 19
2000 9.5 18.4
1999 9.4 17.9
1998 9.6 17.8
1997 9.5 18.5
1996 9.7 19
1995 9.6 19.6
1994 10 20
1993 9.6 20
1992 9.8 20.1
1991 9.9 20.2
1990 10 20.5
1989 10.2 20.6
1988 10.8 20.3
1987 11.1 20.8
1986 11.4 21.4
1985 11.9 22.4
1984 12.5 23.5
1983 12.7 24.4
1982 12.8 26
1981 13 28.1
1980 13.6 28.6
1979 14.2 29.3
1978 14.9 29
1977 15.5 28.3
1976 16.3 28.3
1975 17.1 28.2
1974 18.6 28.2
1973 19.4 28.9
1972 19.3 29.7
1971 19.2 30.2
1970 18.8 31.2
1969 18.5 31.8
1968 18.6 32.6
1967 19.4 33.2
1966 13.7 33.2
1965 18.6 33.8
1964 17.7 34.5
1963 17.3 34.7
1962 17 35.1
1961 16.9 35.6
1960 17.2 36.3

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 11.2 in Sri Lanka, compared with 17.2 and 36.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Sri Lanka
Fertility rate 1.2 1.97
Fertility rate rank 183/196 101/196
Birth rate 6 11.2
Birth rate rank 192/196 125/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 +66,111
Natural population change rank 195/196 87/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% +0.3%
Population growth -0.43% -0.55%
Population growth rank 185/197 188/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years 25.6 years
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 29.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 14.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 94.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 20.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% 53.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% 99.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.53%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% 0.61%
Life expectancy 85.1 years 78 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Sri Lanka
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Sri Lanka
2100 11.5% 13.1%
2099 11.5% 13.1%
2098 11.5% 13.2%
2097 11.5% 13.2%
2096 11.6% 13.2%
2095 11.6% 13.3%
2094 11.6% 13.3%
2093 11.7% 13.4%
2092 11.7% 13.4%
2091 11.8% 13.5%
2090 11.8% 13.6%
2089 11.8% 13.7%
2088 11.8% 13.7%
2087 11.9% 13.8%
2086 11.9% 13.9%
2085 11.8% 14%
2084 11.8% 14%
2083 11.8% 14.1%
2082 11.8% 14.2%
2081 11.7% 14.3%
2080 11.6% 14.3%
2079 11.6% 14.4%
2078 11.5% 14.5%
2077 11.4% 14.5%
2076 11.3% 14.6%
2075 11.2% 14.6%
2074 11.1% 14.7%
2073 11.1% 14.7%
2072 11% 14.8%
2071 10.9% 14.9%
2070 10.9% 14.9%
2069 10.8% 15%
2068 10.8% 15%
2067 10.8% 15.1%
2066 10.8% 15.2%
2065 10.8% 15.3%
2064 10.8% 15.4%
2063 10.8% 15.5%
2062 10.9% 15.6%
2061 10.9% 15.7%
2060 11% 15.8%
2059 11% 16%
2058 11.1% 16.1%
2057 11.1% 16.3%
2056 11.2% 16.4%
2055 11.2% 16.6%
2054 11.3% 16.8%
2053 11.3% 16.9%
2052 11.3% 17.1%
2051 11.3% 17.2%
2050 11.2% 17.4%
2049 11.2% 17.5%
2048 11.1% 17.7%
2047 11.1% 17.8%
2046 11% 17.9%
2045 10.9% 18%
2044 10.8% 18.2%
2043 10.7% 18.3%
2042 10.6% 18.4%
2041 10.5% 18.5%
2040 10.4% 18.6%
2039 10.3% 18.7%
2038 10.2% 18.9%
2037 10.1% 19%
2036 10.1% 19.1%
2035 10.1% 19.3%
2034 10.1% 19.5%
2033 10.1% 19.7%
2032 10.2% 19.9%
2031 10.3% 20.1%
2030 10.5% 20.3%
2029 10.6% 20.6%
2028 10.8% 20.9%
2027 11% 21.2%
2026 11.1% 21.5%
2025 11.3% 21.9%
2024 11.4% 22%
2023 11.6% 22.4%
2022 11.9% 22.7%
2021 12% 23%
2020 12.2% 23.3%
2019 12.4% 23.7%
2018 12.5% 24%
2017 12.6% 24.2%
2016 12.7% 24.5%
2015 12.8% 24.7%
2014 13% 24.9%
2013 13.1% 25%
2012 13.2% 25.2%
2011 13.3% 25.3%
2010 13.4% 25.4%
2009 13.5% 25.5%
2008 13.5% 25.6%
2007 13.6% 25.7%
2006 13.7% 25.7%
2005 13.8% 25.8%
2004 13.8% 26%
2003 13.9% 26.1%
2002 14.1% 26.3%
2001 14.2% 26.6%
2000 14.4% 27%
1999 14.6% 27.4%
1998 14.8% 27.8%
1997 15.1% 28.2%
1996 15.3% 28.6%
1995 15.6% 29.2%
1994 16% 29.9%
1993 16.4% 30.6%
1992 16.9% 31.4%
1991 17.4% 32.1%
1990 18% 32.5%
1989 18.8% 33%
1988 19.5% 33.5%
1987 20.3% 34%
1986 21% 34.6%
1985 21.7% 35.2%
1984 22.2% 35.5%
1983 22.6% 35.8%
1982 23.1% 36%
1981 23.3% 36.2%
1980 23.4% 36.4%
1979 23.7% 36.7%
1978 23.8% 36.9%
1977 23.9% 37.2%
1976 23.9% 37.6%
1975 23.8% 38%
1974 23.8% 38.4%
1973 23.6% 38.8%
1972 23.4% 39.2%
1971 23.3% 39.5%
1970 23.3% 39.7%
1969 23.4% 39.9%
1968 23.5% 40.1%
1967 23.8% 40.3%
1966 24.4% 40.4%
1965 25.1% 40.5%
1964 25.8% 40.6%
1963 26.8% 40.7%
1962 28% 40.8%
1961 29.1% 40.9%
1960 29.8% 41%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 22% in Sri Lanka in 2024, compared to 18% and 32.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Sri Lanka compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Sri Lanka

Japan
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Sri Lanka
2023 3 18
2022 5 22
2021 4 34
2020 4 23
2019 5 20
2018 5 21
2017 5 21
2016 5 22
2015 5 22
2014 5 23
2013 5 23
2012 6 24
2011 6 25
2010 6 26
2009 6 28
2008 6 30
2007 6 31
2006 7 32
2005 7 32
2004 7 37
2003 8 35
2002 8 36
2001 8 37
2000 9 39
1999 9 41
1998 10 43
1997 10 45
1996 11 47
1995 11 48
1994 11 49
1993 12 51
1992 13 54
1991 13 57
1990 14 59
1989 15 61
1988 16 62
1987 17 64
1986 18 66
1985 19 68

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | 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 18 deaths in Sri Lanka.

Under-five mortality rates

Japan
Sri Lanka

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Japan Sri Lanka
2023 0.24% 0.61%
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% 0.79%
2016 0.27% 0.83%
2015 0.28% 0.87%
2014 0.29% 0.92%
2013 0.3% 0.98%
2012 0.31% 1.03%
2011 0.33% 1.08%
2010 0.33% 1.12%
2009 0.34% 2.08%
2008 0.34% 1.2%
2007 0.35% 1.26%
2006 0.36% 1.33%
2005 0.37% 1.4%
2004 0.39% 2.88%
2003 0.4% 1.52%
2002 0.41% 1.55%
2001 0.43% 1.58%
2000 0.45% 1.63%
1999 0.47% 1.69%
1998 0.5% 1.76%
1997 0.52% 1.86%
1996 0.55% 1.95%
1995 0.57% 2.05%
1994 0.59% 2.14%
1993 0.6% 2.22%
1992 0.61% 2.29%
1991 0.62% 2.32%
1990 0.63% 2.33%
1989 0.64% 2.74%
1988 0.66% 2.41%
1987 0.68% 2.54%
1986 0.71% 2.74%
1985 0.75% 3.02%
1984 0.79% 3.35%
1983 0.83% 3.67%
1982 0.88% 3.98%
1981 0.93% 4.29%
1980 0.99% 4.63%
1979 1.05% 4.99%
1978 1.11% 5.38%
1977 1.18% 5.77%
1976 1.25% 6.12%
1975 1.33% 6.41%
1974 1.41% 6.62%
1973 1.49% 6.77%
1972 1.57% 6.86%
1971 1.65% 6.94%
1970 1.75% 7.02%
1969 1.85% 7.14%
1968 1.96% 7.32%
1967 2.1% 7.55%
1966 2.26% 7.81%
1965 2.46% 8.07%
1964 2.7% 8.3%
1963 2.98% 8.48%
1962 3.29% 8.66%
1961 3.62% 8.95%
1960 3.97% 9.41%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/sri-lanka | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.61% in Sri Lanka. 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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