Fertility & birth rates in Japan and United States

Fertility rate in Japan vs United States by year

Chart Table

Japan

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	United States
2023	1.2	1.62
2022	1.26	1.66
2021	1.3	1.66
2020	1.33	1.64
2019	1.36	1.71
2018	1.42	1.73
2017	1.43	1.77
2016	1.44	1.82
2015	1.45	1.84
2014	1.42	1.86
2013	1.43	1.86
2012	1.41	1.88
2011	1.39	1.89
2010	1.39	1.93
2009	1.37	2
2008	1.37	2.07
2007	1.34	2.12
2006	1.32	2.11
2005	1.26	2.06
2004	1.29	2.05
2003	1.29	2.05
2002	1.32	2.02
2001	1.33	2.03
2000	1.36	2.06
1999	1.34	2.01
1998	1.38	2
1997	1.39	1.97
1996	1.43	1.98
1995	1.42	1.98
1994	1.5	2
1993	1.46	2.02
1992	1.5	2.05
1991	1.53	2.06
1990	1.54	2.08
1989	1.57	2.01
1988	1.66	1.93
1987	1.69	1.87
1986	1.72	1.84
1985	1.76	1.84
1984	1.81	1.81
1983	1.8	1.8
1982	1.77	1.83
1981	1.74	1.81
1980	1.75	1.84
1979	1.77	1.81
1978	1.79	1.76
1977	1.8	1.79
1976	1.85	1.74
1975	1.91	1.77
1974	2.05	1.84
1973	2.14	1.88
1972	2.14	2.01
1971	2.16	2.27
1970	2.13	2.48
1969	2.13	2.46
1968	2.13	2.46
1967	2.23	2.56
1966	1.58	2.72
1965	2.14	2.91
1964	2.05	3.19
1963	2	3.32
1962	1.98	3.46
1961	1.96	3.62
1960	2	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	United States
2023	-871,617	502,372
2022	-825,825	399,926
2021	-640,976	199,137
2020	-542,923	208,862
2019	-531,858	887,476
2018	-456,520	955,022
2017	-406,310	1,028,037
2016	-343,106	1,197,627
2015	-292,424	1,270,126
2014	-267,279	1,357,281
2013	-242,146	1,322,711
2012	-229,733	1,411,822
2011	-204,533	1,441,697
2010	-128,070	1,548,182
2009	-76,828	1,717,920
2008	-51,225	1,794,154
2007	-25,600	1,897,757
2006	12,785	1,849,955
2005	-25,554	1,684,445
2004	76,656	1,698,271
2003	114,946	1,653,615
2002	178,423	1,581,938
2001	203,438	1,595,826
2000	228,317	1,664,758
1999	202,610	1,564,050
1998	265,440	1,573,857
1997	277,325	1,501,014
1996	314,392	1,510,137
1995	276,039	1,546,031
1994	363,017	1,633,302
1993	312,073	1,717,685
1992	360,833	1,875,328
1991	396,685	1,926,543
1990	407,478	2,026,068
1989	467,662	1,875,826
1988	527,085	1,735,943
1987	598,138	1,720,252
1986	631,706	1,656,917
1985	676,687	1,689,258
1984	756,523	1,627,192
1983	775,495	1,636,544
1982	805,664	1,714,317
1981	811,861	1,652,153
1980	864,372	1,608,450
1979	950,298	1,597,894
1978	1,011,234	1,402,283
1977	1,070,397	1,431,556
1976	1,127,750	1,264,604
1975	1,204,989	1,252,644
1974	1,332,960	1,218,968
1973	1,391,449	1,165,499
1972	1,372,006	1,301,355
1971	1,331,782	1,640,519
1970	1,230,496	1,824,965
1969	1,195,962	1,702,487
1968	1,191,930	1,565,507
1967	1,258,475	1,669,181
1966	682,072	1,749,387
1965	1,126,448	1,943,030
1964	1,046,553	2,245,099
1963	987,770	2,289,826
1962	901,864	2,406,337
1961	893,522	2,571,681
1960	894,874	2,565,530

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 the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Japan vs United States by year

Chart Table

Japan

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	United States
2023	6	10.7
2022	6.3	11
2021	6.6	11
2020	6.8	10.9
2019	7	11.4
2018	7.4	11.6
2017	7.6	11.8
2016	7.8	12.2
2015	8	12.4
2014	8	12.5
2013	8.2	12.4
2012	8.2	12.6
2011	8.3	12.7
2010	8.5	13
2009	8.5	13.5
2008	8.7	14
2007	8.6	14.3
2006	8.7	14.3
2005	8.4	14
2004	8.8	14
2003	8.9	14.1
2002	9.2	14
2001	9.3	14.1
2000	9.5	14.4
1999	9.4	14.2
1998	9.6	14.3
1997	9.5	14.2
1996	9.7	14.4
1995	9.6	14.6
1994	10	15
1993	9.6	15.4
1992	9.8	15.8
1991	9.9	16.2
1990	10	16.7
1989	10.2	16.4
1988	10.8	16
1987	11.1	15.7
1986	11.4	15.6
1985	11.9	15.8
1984	12.5	15.6
1983	12.7	15.6
1982	12.8	15.9
1981	13	15.8
1980	13.6	15.9
1979	14.2	15.6
1978	14.9	15
1977	15.5	15.1
1976	16.3	14.6
1975	17.1	14.6
1974	18.6	14.8
1973	19.4	14.8
1972	19.3	15.6
1971	19.2	17.2
1970	18.8	18.4
1969	18.5	17.9
1968	18.6	17.6
1967	19.4	17.8
1966	13.7	18.4
1965	18.6	19.4
1964	17.7	21.1
1963	17.3	21.7
1962	17	22.4
1961	16.9	23.3
1960	17.2	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 17.2 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	United States
2100	11.5%	14.4%
2099	11.5%	14.4%
2098	11.5%	14.4%
2097	11.5%	14.4%
2096	11.6%	14.4%
2095	11.6%	14.5%
2094	11.6%	14.5%
2093	11.7%	14.5%
2092	11.7%	14.5%
2091	11.8%	14.6%
2090	11.8%	14.6%
2089	11.8%	14.7%
2088	11.8%	14.7%
2087	11.9%	14.7%
2086	11.9%	14.8%
2085	11.8%	14.8%
2084	11.8%	14.8%
2083	11.8%	14.9%
2082	11.8%	14.9%
2081	11.7%	14.9%
2080	11.6%	14.9%
2079	11.6%	14.9%
2078	11.5%	14.9%
2077	11.4%	14.9%
2076	11.3%	14.9%
2075	11.2%	14.9%
2074	11.1%	14.9%
2073	11.1%	14.9%
2072	11%	14.9%
2071	10.9%	14.9%
2070	10.9%	14.9%
2069	10.8%	14.9%
2068	10.8%	14.9%
2067	10.8%	14.9%
2066	10.8%	14.9%
2065	10.8%	15%
2064	10.8%	15%
2063	10.8%	15%
2062	10.9%	15.1%
2061	10.9%	15.1%
2060	11%	15.2%
2059	11%	15.3%
2058	11.1%	15.4%
2057	11.1%	15.5%
2056	11.2%	15.5%
2055	11.2%	15.6%
2054	11.3%	15.7%
2053	11.3%	15.8%
2052	11.3%	15.8%
2051	11.3%	15.9%
2050	11.2%	15.9%
2049	11.2%	16%
2048	11.1%	16%
2047	11.1%	16%
2046	11%	16%
2045	10.9%	16%
2044	10.8%	16%
2043	10.7%	16%
2042	10.6%	16%
2041	10.5%	15.9%
2040	10.4%	15.9%
2039	10.3%	15.9%
2038	10.2%	15.9%
2037	10.1%	15.9%
2036	10.1%	15.9%
2035	10.1%	15.9%
2034	10.1%	15.9%
2033	10.1%	16%
2032	10.2%	16.1%
2031	10.3%	16.2%
2030	10.5%	16.3%
2029	10.6%	16.5%
2028	10.8%	16.6%
2027	11%	16.8%
2026	11.1%	17%
2025	11.3%	17.2%
2024	11.4%	17.3%
2023	11.6%	17.6%
2022	11.9%	17.9%
2021	12%	18.1%
2020	12.2%	18.4%
2019	12.4%	18.6%
2018	12.5%	18.8%
2017	12.6%	18.9%
2016	12.7%	19.1%
2015	12.8%	19.2%
2014	13%	19.3%
2013	13.1%	19.4%
2012	13.2%	19.5%
2011	13.3%	19.6%
2010	13.4%	19.7%
2009	13.5%	19.8%
2008	13.5%	19.9%
2007	13.6%	20%
2006	13.7%	20.2%
2005	13.8%	20.3%
2004	13.8%	20.5%
2003	13.9%	20.7%
2002	14.1%	20.9%
2001	14.2%	21%
2000	14.4%	21.2%
1999	14.6%	21.3%
1998	14.8%	21.4%
1997	15.1%	21.5%
1996	15.3%	21.7%
1995	15.6%	21.8%
1994	16%	21.9%
1993	16.4%	21.9%
1992	16.9%	21.8%
1991	17.4%	21.7%
1990	18%	21.6%
1989	18.8%	21.5%
1988	19.5%	21.3%
1987	20.3%	21.3%
1986	21%	21.3%
1985	21.7%	21.5%
1984	22.2%	21.7%
1983	22.6%	21.8%
1982	23.1%	22%
1981	23.3%	22.1%
1980	23.4%	22.4%
1979	23.7%	22.8%
1978	23.8%	23.2%
1977	23.9%	23.8%
1976	23.9%	24.4%
1975	23.8%	25.2%
1974	23.8%	25.9%
1973	23.6%	26.6%
1972	23.4%	27.4%
1971	23.3%	28%
1970	23.3%	28.6%
1969	23.4%	29%
1968	23.5%	29.5%
1967	23.8%	30%
1966	24.4%	30.4%
1965	25.1%	30.7%
1964	25.8%	30.9%
1963	26.8%	31.1%
1962	28%	31.3%
1961	29.1%	31.4%
1960	29.8%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 18% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs United States

Chart Table

Japan

United States

1x

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

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	United States
2023	0.24%	0.65%
2022	0.24%	0.65%
2021	0.24%	0.65%
2020	0.24%	0.65%
2019	0.25%	0.65%
2018	0.25%	0.65%
2017	0.26%	0.66%
2016	0.27%	0.67%
2015	0.28%	0.68%
2014	0.29%	0.68%
2013	0.3%	0.69%
2012	0.31%	0.7%
2011	0.33%	0.72%
2010	0.33%	0.73%
2009	0.34%	0.75%
2008	0.34%	0.76%
2007	0.35%	0.77%
2006	0.36%	0.79%
2005	0.37%	0.8%
2004	0.39%	0.81%
2003	0.4%	0.81%
2002	0.41%	0.82%
2001	0.43%	0.83%
2000	0.45%	0.84%
1999	0.47%	0.86%
1998	0.5%	0.87%
1997	0.52%	0.89%
1996	0.55%	0.92%
1995	0.57%	0.95%
1994	0.59%	0.98%
1993	0.6%	1.01%
1992	0.61%	1.05%
1991	0.62%	1.09%
1990	0.63%	1.12%
1989	0.64%	1.16%
1988	0.66%	1.19%
1987	0.68%	1.21%
1986	0.71%	1.24%
1985	0.75%	1.27%
1984	0.79%	1.3%
1983	0.83%	1.34%
1982	0.88%	1.39%
1981	0.93%	1.44%
1980	0.99%	1.5%
1979	1.05%	1.56%
1978	1.11%	1.63%
1977	1.18%	1.71%
1976	1.25%	1.79%
1975	1.33%	1.88%
1974	1.41%	1.97%
1973	1.49%	2.06%
1972	1.57%	2.15%
1971	1.65%	2.24%
1970	1.75%	2.32%
1969	1.85%	2.41%
1968	1.96%	2.49%
1967	2.1%	2.57%
1966	2.26%	2.64%
1965	2.46%	2.71%
1964	2.7%	2.77%
1963	2.98%	2.83%
1962	3.29%	2.89%
1961	3.62%	2.95%
1960	3.97%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.