Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Sweden

Fertility rate in Japan vs Sweden by year

Chart Table

Japan

Sweden

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	Sweden
2023	1.2	1.45
2022	1.26	1.53
2021	1.3	1.67
2020	1.33	1.67
2019	1.36	1.71
2018	1.42	1.76
2017	1.43	1.78
2016	1.44	1.85
2015	1.45	1.85
2014	1.42	1.88
2013	1.43	1.89
2012	1.41	1.91
2011	1.39	1.9
2010	1.39	1.98
2009	1.37	1.94
2008	1.37	1.91
2007	1.34	1.88
2006	1.32	1.85
2005	1.26	1.77
2004	1.29	1.75
2003	1.29	1.71
2002	1.32	1.65
2001	1.33	1.57
2000	1.36	1.54
1999	1.34	1.5
1998	1.38	1.5
1997	1.39	1.52
1996	1.43	1.6
1995	1.42	1.73
1994	1.5	1.88
1993	1.46	1.99
1992	1.5	2.09
1991	1.53	2.11
1990	1.54	2.13
1989	1.57	2.01
1988	1.66	1.96
1987	1.69	1.84
1986	1.72	1.8
1985	1.76	1.74
1984	1.81	1.66
1983	1.8	1.61
1982	1.77	1.62
1981	1.74	1.63
1980	1.75	1.68
1979	1.77	1.66
1978	1.79	1.6
1977	1.8	1.64
1976	1.85	1.68
1975	1.91	1.77
1974	2.05	1.87
1973	2.14	1.87
1972	2.14	1.91
1971	2.16	1.96
1970	2.13	1.92
1969	2.13	1.93
1968	2.13	2.07
1967	2.23	2.28
1966	1.58	2.37
1965	2.14	2.39
1964	2.05	2.47
1963	2	2.33
1962	1.98	2.25
1961	1.96	2.21
1960	2	2.17

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.45 in Sweden in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

Sweden

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	Sweden
2023	-871,617	5,269
2022	-825,825	10,487
2021	-640,976	22,914
2020	-542,923	14,495
2019	-531,858	25,697
2018	-456,520	23,403
2017	-406,310	24,138
2016	-343,106	25,800
2015	-292,424	23,518
2014	-267,279	26,179
2013	-242,146	23,041
2012	-229,733	20,943
2011	-204,533	21,733
2010	-128,070	25,320
2009	-76,828	21,387
2008	-51,225	18,439
2007	-25,600	15,552
2006	12,785	15,436
2005	-25,554	9,030
2004	76,656	9,893
2003	114,946	6,271
2002	178,423	893
2001	203,438	-1,779
2000	228,317	-2,662
1999	202,610	-6,201
1998	265,440	-3,541
1997	277,325	-3,539
1996	314,392	1,768
1995	276,039	9,710
1994	363,017	20,196
1993	312,073	20,924
1992	360,833	28,605
1991	396,685	29,299
1990	407,478	29,100
1989	467,662	24,629
1988	527,085	15,186
1987	598,138	11,757
1986	631,706	9,206
1985	676,687	4,175
1984	756,523	3,335
1983	775,495	833
1982	805,664	1,665
1981	811,861	1,664
1980	864,372	5,818
1979	950,298	4,976
1978	1,011,234	4,138
1977	1,070,397	7,426
1976	1,127,750	8,222
1975	1,204,989	14,746
1974	1,332,960	23,664
1973	1,391,449	24,409
1972	1,372,006	28,428
1971	1,331,782	31,583
1970	1,230,496	30,563
1969	1,195,962	23,904
1968	1,191,930	30,858
1967	1,258,475	41,700
1966	682,072	45,286
1965	1,126,448	44,857
1964	1,046,553	45,968
1963	987,770	35,741
1962	901,864	30,246
1961	893,522	30,832
1960	894,874	27,693

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 +0.05% in Sweden.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.2% in Sweden.

Birth rate in Japan vs Sweden by year

Chart Table

Japan

Sweden

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	Sweden
2023	6	9.5
2022	6.3	10
2021	6.6	11
2020	6.8	10.9
2019	7	11.1
2018	7.4	11.4
2017	7.6	11.5
2016	7.8	11.8
2015	8	11.7
2014	8	11.9
2013	8.2	11.8
2012	8.2	11.9
2011	8.3	11.8
2010	8.5	12.3
2009	8.5	12
2008	8.7	11.9
2007	8.6	11.7
2006	8.7	11.7
2005	8.4	11.2
2004	8.8	11.2
2003	8.9	11.1
2002	9.2	10.7
2001	9.3	10.3
2000	9.5	10.2
1999	9.4	10
1998	9.6	10.1
1997	9.5	10.2
1996	9.7	10.8
1995	9.6	11.7
1994	10	12.8
1993	9.6	13.5
1992	9.8	14.2
1991	9.9	14.4
1990	10	14.5
1989	10.2	13.7
1988	10.8	13.3
1987	11.1	12.5
1986	11.4	12.2
1985	11.9	11.8
1984	12.5	11.3
1983	12.7	11
1982	12.8	11.1
1981	13	11.3
1980	13.6	11.7
1979	14.2	11.6
1978	14.9	11.3
1977	15.5	11.6
1976	16.3	12
1975	17.1	12.6
1974	18.6	13.5
1973	19.4	13.5
1972	19.3	13.8
1971	19.2	14.1
1970	18.8	13.7
1969	18.5	13.5
1968	18.6	14.3
1967	19.4	15.4
1966	13.7	15.8
1965	18.6	15.9
1964	17.7	16
1963	17.3	14.8
1962	17	14.2
1961	16.9	13.9
1960	17.2	13.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 9.5 in Sweden, compared with 17.2 and 13.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

Sweden

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	Sweden
2100	11.5%	13%
2099	11.5%	13%
2098	11.5%	13.1%
2097	11.5%	13.1%
2096	11.6%	13.2%
2095	11.6%	13.2%
2094	11.6%	13.3%
2093	11.7%	13.3%
2092	11.7%	13.4%
2091	11.8%	13.4%
2090	11.8%	13.5%
2089	11.8%	13.5%
2088	11.8%	13.5%
2087	11.9%	13.5%
2086	11.9%	13.6%
2085	11.8%	13.6%
2084	11.8%	13.5%
2083	11.8%	13.5%
2082	11.8%	13.5%
2081	11.7%	13.4%
2080	11.6%	13.4%
2079	11.6%	13.3%
2078	11.5%	13.3%
2077	11.4%	13.2%
2076	11.3%	13.2%
2075	11.2%	13.2%
2074	11.1%	13.1%
2073	11.1%	13.1%
2072	11%	13.1%
2071	10.9%	13.1%
2070	10.9%	13.1%
2069	10.8%	13.1%
2068	10.8%	13.2%
2067	10.8%	13.2%
2066	10.8%	13.3%
2065	10.8%	13.4%
2064	10.8%	13.5%
2063	10.8%	13.6%
2062	10.9%	13.7%
2061	10.9%	13.8%
2060	11%	13.9%
2059	11%	14.1%
2058	11.1%	14.2%
2057	11.1%	14.2%
2056	11.2%	14.3%
2055	11.2%	14.4%
2054	11.3%	14.4%
2053	11.3%	14.4%
2052	11.3%	14.4%
2051	11.3%	14.4%
2050	11.2%	14.4%
2049	11.2%	14.3%
2048	11.1%	14.3%
2047	11.1%	14.2%
2046	11%	14.1%
2045	10.9%	14%
2044	10.8%	14%
2043	10.7%	13.9%
2042	10.6%	13.8%
2041	10.5%	13.8%
2040	10.4%	13.8%
2039	10.3%	13.8%
2038	10.2%	13.8%
2037	10.1%	13.8%
2036	10.1%	14%
2035	10.1%	14.2%
2034	10.1%	14.4%
2033	10.1%	14.7%
2032	10.2%	14.9%
2031	10.3%	15.2%
2030	10.5%	15.5%
2029	10.6%	15.8%
2028	10.8%	16%
2027	11%	16.3%
2026	11.1%	16.6%
2025	11.3%	16.9%
2024	11.4%	17%
2023	11.6%	17.2%
2022	11.9%	17.5%
2021	12%	17.7%
2020	12.2%	17.7%
2019	12.4%	17.8%
2018	12.5%	17.8%
2017	12.6%	17.7%
2016	12.7%	17.5%
2015	12.8%	17.3%
2014	13%	17.2%
2013	13.1%	17%
2012	13.2%	16.8%
2011	13.3%	16.7%
2010	13.4%	16.6%
2009	13.5%	16.6%
2008	13.5%	16.7%
2007	13.6%	16.9%
2006	13.7%	17.1%
2005	13.8%	17.4%
2004	13.8%	17.7%
2003	13.9%	17.9%
2002	14.1%	18.1%
2001	14.2%	18.3%
2000	14.4%	18.4%
1999	14.6%	18.6%
1998	14.8%	18.7%
1997	15.1%	18.7%
1996	15.3%	18.8%
1995	15.6%	18.9%
1994	16%	18.8%
1993	16.4%	18.6%
1992	16.9%	18.4%
1991	17.4%	18.1%
1990	18%	17.9%
1989	18.8%	17.8%
1988	19.5%	17.8%
1987	20.3%	17.9%
1986	21%	18%
1985	21.7%	18.2%
1984	22.2%	18.3%
1983	22.6%	18.6%
1982	23.1%	18.9%
1981	23.3%	19.2%
1980	23.4%	19.6%
1979	23.7%	19.9%
1978	23.8%	20.3%
1977	23.9%	20.5%
1976	23.9%	20.6%
1975	23.8%	20.7%
1974	23.8%	20.7%
1973	23.6%	20.7%
1972	23.4%	20.8%
1971	23.3%	20.8%
1970	23.3%	20.8%
1969	23.4%	20.9%
1968	23.5%	20.9%
1967	23.8%	21%
1966	24.4%	20.9%
1965	25.1%	20.9%
1964	25.8%	21%
1963	26.8%	21.2%
1962	28%	21.5%
1961	29.1%	22%
1960	29.8%	22.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 17% in Sweden in 2024, compared to 18% and 17.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Sweden compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Sweden

Chart Table

Japan

Sweden

1x

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

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 Sweden.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

Sweden

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	Sweden
2023	0.24%	0.25%
2022	0.24%	0.25%
2021	0.24%	0.25%
2020	0.24%	0.26%
2019	0.25%	0.26%
2018	0.25%	0.27%
2017	0.26%	0.28%
2016	0.27%	0.28%
2015	0.28%	0.29%
2014	0.29%	0.29%
2013	0.3%	0.29%
2012	0.31%	0.3%
2011	0.33%	0.3%
2010	0.33%	0.31%
2009	0.34%	0.31%
2008	0.34%	0.32%
2007	0.35%	0.33%
2006	0.36%	0.35%
2005	0.37%	0.36%
2004	0.39%	0.37%
2003	0.4%	0.39%
2002	0.41%	0.4%
2001	0.43%	0.4%
2000	0.45%	0.41%
1999	0.47%	0.41%
1998	0.5%	0.42%
1997	0.52%	0.44%
1996	0.55%	0.46%
1995	0.57%	0.48%
1994	0.59%	0.52%
1993	0.6%	0.57%
1992	0.61%	0.62%
1991	0.62%	0.66%
1990	0.63%	0.7%
1989	0.64%	0.72%
1988	0.66%	0.73%
1987	0.68%	0.74%
1986	0.71%	0.75%
1985	0.75%	0.76%
1984	0.79%	0.77%
1983	0.83%	0.78%
1982	0.88%	0.8%
1981	0.93%	0.82%
1980	0.99%	0.84%
1979	1.05%	0.87%
1978	1.11%	0.9%
1977	1.18%	0.94%
1976	1.25%	0.98%
1975	1.33%	1.03%
1974	1.41%	1.09%
1973	1.49%	1.16%
1972	1.57%	1.23%
1971	1.65%	1.29%
1970	1.75%	1.34%
1969	1.85%	1.39%
1968	1.96%	1.44%
1967	2.1%	1.49%
1966	2.26%	1.56%
1965	2.46%	1.63%
1964	2.7%	1.71%
1963	2.98%	1.79%
1962	3.29%	1.86%
1961	3.62%	1.92%
1960	3.97%	1.96%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.25% in Sweden. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.