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Fertility & birth rates in Japan and Taiwan

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has an annual birth rate of 6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 5.76 for Taiwan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.2 in Japan and 0.89 in Taiwan — 26.3% difference.

1981 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 31% in Japan and by 64.8% in Taiwan — in 1981, it was 1.74 and 2.46, respectively.

  • Japan is ranked 192/196 by birth rate compared to 193/196 for Taiwan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.2 in Japan — it's 32.3 in Taiwan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.74 in Japan vs 3 in Taiwan.
  • In Japan, 18.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.9% in Taiwan.

Fertility rate in Japan vs Taiwan by year

Japan
Taiwan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Taiwan
2024 - 0.89
2023 1.2 0.87
2022 1.26 0.87
2021 1.3 0.98
2020 1.33 0.99
2019 1.36 1.05
2018 1.42 1.06
2017 1.43 1.13
2016 1.44 1.17
2015 1.45 1.18
2014 1.42 -
2013 1.43 -
2012 1.41 -
2011 1.39 1.07
2010 1.39 -
2009 1.37 -
2008 1.37 -
2007 1.34 -
2006 1.32 -
2005 1.26 -
2004 1.29 -
2003 1.29 -
2002 1.32 -
2001 1.33 1.4
2000 1.36 -
1999 1.34 -
1998 1.38 -
1997 1.39 -
1996 1.43 -
1995 1.42 -
1994 1.5 -
1993 1.46 -
1992 1.5 -
1991 1.53 1.72
1990 1.54 -
1989 1.57 -
1988 1.66 -
1987 1.69 -
1986 1.72 -
1985 1.76 -
1984 1.81 -
1983 1.8 -
1982 1.77 -
1981 1.74 2.46
1980 1.75 -
1979 1.77 -
1978 1.79 -
1977 1.8 -
1976 1.85 -
1975 1.91 -
1974 2.05 -
1973 2.14 -
1972 2.14 -
1971 2.16 -
1970 2.13 -
1969 2.13 -
1968 2.13 -
1967 2.23 -
1966 1.58 -
1965 2.14 -
1964 2.05 -
1963 2 -
1962 1.98 -
1961 1.96 -
1960 2 -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/taiwan | 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 0.89 in Taiwan in 2024. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Japan
Taiwan
1x
Year Natural population change
Japan Taiwan
2024 - -67,188
2023 -871,617 -69,794
2022 -825,825 -68,327
2021 -640,976 -30,039
2020 -542,923 -7,782
2019 -531,858 1,416
2018 -456,520 8,725
2017 -406,310 22,613
2016 -343,106 35,980
2015 -292,424 49,741
2014 -267,279 -
2013 -242,146 -
2012 -229,733 -
2011 -204,533 43,836
2010 -128,070 -
2009 -76,828 -
2008 -51,225 -
2007 -25,600 -
2006 12,785 -
2005 -25,554 -
2004 76,656 -
2003 114,946 -
2002 178,423 -
2001 203,438 132,707
2000 228,317 -
1999 202,610 -
1998 265,440 -
1997 277,325 -
1996 314,392 -
1995 276,039 -
1994 363,017 -
1993 312,073 -
1992 360,833 -
1991 396,685 215,698
1990 407,478 -
1989 467,662 -
1988 527,085 -
1987 598,138 -
1986 631,706 -
1985 676,687 -
1984 756,523 -
1983 775,495 -
1982 805,664 -
1981 811,861 326,883
1980 864,372 -
1979 950,298 -
1978 1,011,234 -
1977 1,070,397 -
1976 1,127,750 -
1975 1,204,989 -
1974 1,332,960 -
1973 1,391,449 -
1972 1,372,006 -
1971 1,331,782 -
1970 1,230,496 -
1969 1,195,962 -
1968 1,191,930 -
1967 1,258,475 -
1966 682,072 346,958
1965 1,126,448 -
1964 1,046,553 -
1963 987,770 -
1962 901,864 -
1961 893,522 -
1960 894,874 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/taiwan | 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 -0.29% in Taiwan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and -0.05% in Taiwan.

Birth rate in Japan vs Taiwan by year

Japan
Taiwan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Japan Taiwan
2024 - 5.76
2023 6 5.81
2022 6.3 5.96
2021 6.6 6.55
2020 6.8 7.01
2019 7 7.53
2018 7.4 7.7
2017 7.6 8.23
2016 7.8 8.86
2015 8 9.1
2014 8 -
2013 8.2 -
2012 8.2 -
2011 8.3 8.48
2010 8.5 -
2009 8.5 -
2008 8.7 -
2007 8.6 -
2006 8.7 -
2005 8.4 -
2004 8.8 -
2003 8.9 -
2002 9.2 -
2001 9.3 11.7
2000 9.5 -
1999 9.4 -
1998 9.6 -
1997 9.5 -
1996 9.7 -
1995 9.6 -
1994 10 -
1993 9.6 -
1992 9.8 -
1991 9.9 15.7
1990 10 -
1989 10.2 -
1988 10.8 -
1987 11.1 -
1986 11.4 -
1985 11.9 -
1984 12.5 -
1983 12.7 -
1982 12.8 -
1981 13 23
1980 13.6 -
1979 14.2 -
1978 14.9 -
1977 15.5 -
1976 16.3 -
1975 17.1 -
1974 18.6 -
1973 19.4 -
1972 19.3 -
1971 19.2 -
1970 18.8 -
1969 18.5 -
1968 18.6 -
1967 19.4 -
1966 13.7 32.4
1965 18.6 -
1964 17.7 -
1963 17.3 -
1962 17 -
1961 16.9 -
1960 17.2 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 5.81 in Taiwan, compared with 13.7 and 32.4, respectively, in 1966.

Birth rate data compared

Japan Taiwan
Fertility rate 1.2 0.89
Fertility rate rank 183/196 195/196
Birth rate 6 5.76
Birth rate rank 192/196 193/196
Population change due to births and deaths -871,617 -67,188
Natural population change rank 195/196 186/196
Natural population change rate -0.7% -0.29%
Population growth -0.43% -0.34%
Population growth rank 185/197 180/197
Age at first childbirth 30.7 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 32.2 years 32.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.46 2.85
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 40.5 26.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.5 10.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 18.6% 22.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.8% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.8% n/a
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.01%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.08% 0.28%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 0.45%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.24% n/a
Life expectancy 85.1 years 81.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Japan
Factual

UN forecast
Taiwan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Japan Taiwan
2100 11.5% 9.81%
2099 11.5% 9.82%
2098 11.5% 9.83%
2097 11.5% 9.82%
2096 11.6% 9.8%
2095 11.6% 9.78%
2094 11.6% 9.74%
2093 11.7% 9.69%
2092 11.7% 9.63%
2091 11.8% 9.57%
2090 11.8% 9.49%
2089 11.8% 9.41%
2088 11.8% 9.32%
2087 11.9% 9.23%
2086 11.9% 9.13%
2085 11.8% 9.04%
2084 11.8% 8.94%
2083 11.8% 8.84%
2082 11.8% 8.74%
2081 11.7% 8.64%
2080 11.6% 8.55%
2079 11.6% 8.46%
2078 11.5% 8.39%
2077 11.4% 8.32%
2076 11.3% 8.26%
2075 11.2% 8.22%
2074 11.1% 8.19%
2073 11.1% 8.18%
2072 11% 8.18%
2071 10.9% 8.2%
2070 10.9% 8.23%
2069 10.8% 8.26%
2068 10.8% 8.31%
2067 10.8% 8.37%
2066 10.8% 8.42%
2065 10.8% 8.48%
2064 10.8% 8.53%
2063 10.8% 8.57%
2062 10.9% 8.61%
2061 10.9% 8.63%
2060 11% 8.64%
2059 11% 8.64%
2058 11.1% 8.62%
2057 11.1% 8.6%
2056 11.2% 8.55%
2055 11.2% 8.51%
2054 11.3% 8.45%
2053 11.3% 8.39%
2052 11.3% 8.33%
2051 11.3% 8.27%
2050 11.2% 8.22%
2049 11.2% 8.16%
2048 11.1% 8.12%
2047 11.1% 8.08%
2046 11% 8.04%
2045 10.9% 8.02%
2044 10.8% 8%
2043 10.7% 7.99%
2042 10.6% 7.99%
2041 10.5% 8%
2040 10.4% 8.01%
2039 10.3% 8.04%
2038 10.2% 8.09%
2037 10.1% 8.14%
2036 10.1% 8.25%
2035 10.1% 8.43%
2034 10.1% 8.66%
2033 10.1% 8.92%
2032 10.2% 9.2%
2031 10.3% 9.58%
2030 10.5% 10%
2029 10.6% 10.4%
2028 10.8% 10.7%
2027 11% 11.1%
2026 11.1% 11.4%
2025 11.3% 11.6%
2024 11.4% 11.7%
2023 11.6% 11.9%
2022 11.9% 12.1%
2021 12% 12.4%
2020 12.2% 12.6%
2019 12.4% 12.8%
2018 12.5% 12.9%
2017 12.6% 13.1%
2016 12.7% 13.3%
2015 12.8% 13.6%
2014 13% 14%
2013 13.1% 14.3%
2012 13.2% 14.6%
2011 13.3% 15.1%
2010 13.4% 15.6%
2009 13.5% 16.3%
2008 13.5% 17%
2007 13.6% 17.6%
2006 13.7% 18.1%
2005 13.8% 18.7%
2004 13.8% 19.3%
2003 13.9% 19.8%
2002 14.1% 20.4%
2001 14.2% 20.8%
2000 14.4% 21.1%
1999 14.6% 21.4%
1998 14.8% 22%
1997 15.1% 22.6%
1996 15.3% 23.1%
1995 15.6% 23.8%
1994 16% 24.4%
1993 16.4% 25.1%
1992 16.9% 25.8%
1991 17.4% 26.3%
1990 18% 27.1%
1989 18.8% 27.5%
1988 19.5% 28%
1987 20.3% 28.4%
1986 21% 29%
1985 21.7% 29.6%
1984 22.2% 30.2%
1983 22.6% 30.8%
1982 23.1% 31.2%
1981 23.3% 31.6%
1980 23.4% 32.1%
1979 23.7% 32.7%
1978 23.8% 33.3%
1977 23.9% 34%
1976 23.9% 34.7%
1975 23.8% 35.4%
1974 23.8% 36.2%
1973 23.6% -
1972 23.4% -
1971 23.3% -
1970 23.3% -
1969 23.4% -
1968 23.5% -
1967 23.8% -
1966 24.4% -
1965 25.1% -
1964 25.8% -
1963 26.8% -
1962 28% -
1961 29.1% -
1960 29.8% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

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

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 11.7% in Taiwan in 2024, compared to 18% and 27.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and Taiwan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1981–2023, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs Taiwan

Japan
Taiwan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Japan Taiwan
2024 - 14
2023 3 14
2022 5 14
2021 4 14
2020 4 13
2019 5 15.4
2018 5 11.6
2017 5 11.6
2016 5 11.6
2015 5 11.3
2014 5 8.5
2013 5 8.5
2012 6 8.5
2011 6 7.8
2010 6 7.8
2009 6 7.8
2008 6 7.8
2007 6 7.8
2006 7 7.8
2005 7 7.8
2004 7 7.8
2003 8 7.8
2002 8 7.8
2001 8 7.8
2000 9 7.8
1999 9 8.4
1998 10 8.9
1997 10 9.2
1996 11 7.7
1995 11 7.7
1994 11 8
1993 12 9.2
1992 13 6.8
1991 13 8.1
1990 14 12.2
1989 15 12.7
1988 16 9
1987 17 8.9
1986 18 9.4
1985 19 -

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1986–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/japan/taiwan | 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 14 deaths in Taiwan.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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