Japan vs United States Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Japan vs the United States

Table

Year	Median age
	Japan	United States
1960	25.8	29.2
1961	26.2	29
1962	26.5	28.7
1963	26.9	28.5
1964	27.2	28.2
1965	27.6	28.1
1966	28	27.9
1967	28.4	27.9
1968	28.6	27.9
1969	28.9	27.9
1970	29.2	27.8
1971	29.6	27.9
1972	29.9	28
1973	30.2	28.3
1974	30.4	28.5
1975	30.6	28.7
1976	30.9	28.9
1977	31.5	29.2
1978	32	29.6
1979	32.4	29.9
1980	32.8	30.1
1981	33.1	30.4
1982	33.7	30.7
1983	34.3	30.9
1984	34.9	31.2
1985	35.4	31.5
1986	35.9	31.8
1987	36.3	32.1
1988	36.8	32.4
1989	37.2	32.7
1990	37.7	32.9
1991	38.2	33.2
1992	38.7	33.4
1993	39.2	33.6
1994	39.6	33.8
1995	40	34.1
1996	40.3	34.4
1997	40.7	34.6
1998	41	34.9
1999	41.4	35.1
2000	41.8	35.3
2001	42.1	35.5
2002	42.5	35.6
2003	42.8	35.8
2004	43.2	36
2005	43.6	36.2
2006	43.9	36.4
2007	44.2	36.5
2008	44.6	36.6
2009	44.9	36.7
2010	45.2	36.9
2011	45.5	37
2012	45.8	37.1
2013	46.2	37.2
2014	46.6	37.3
2015	47	37.5
2016	47.3	37.6
2017	47.6	37.7
2018	48	37.9
2019	48.3	38
2020	48.7	38.2
2021	49.1	38.5
2022	49.5	38.7
2023	50	39
2024	50.4	39.3
2025	50.8	39.5
2026	51.2	39.7
2027	51.5	39.9
2028	51.9	40.1
2029	52.2	40.3
2030	52.5	40.6
2031	52.7	40.8
2032	53	41
2033	53.2	41.2
2034	53.4	41.3
2035	53.5	41.5
2036	53.7	41.6
2037	53.8	41.7
2038	53.9	41.7
2039	54	41.8
2040	54.1	41.8
2041	54.1	41.9
2042	54.1	41.9
2043	54.1	42
2044	54.1	42.1
2045	54	42.2
2046	53.9	42.3
2047	53.9	42.4
2048	53.8	42.5
2049	53.8	42.7
2050	53.8	42.9

In 1960, the median age in Japan was 25.8 years compared to 29.2 years in the United States. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 50.4 years in Japan and to 39.3 years in the United States.

According to United Nations projections, the median age in Japan is expected to increased to around 53.8 years by 2050 compared to 42.9 years in the United States. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Japan		United States
	Male	Female	Male	Female
0-4	1.66%	1.58%	2.75%	2.62%
5-9	1.99%	1.89%	2.98%	2.83%
10-14	2.22%	2.09%	3.16%	2.98%
15-19	2.35%	2.22%	3.39%	3.2%
20-24	2.52%	2.4%	3.38%	3.17%
25-29	2.51%	2.42%	3.38%	3.16%
30-34	2.51%	2.41%	3.64%	3.4%
35-39	2.75%	2.66%	3.56%	3.34%
40-44	3.05%	2.98%	3.43%	3.25%
45-49	3.61%	3.55%	3.11%	2.97%
50-54	4.02%	3.95%	3.07%	2.96%
55-59	3.42%	3.33%	3.04%	2.99%
60-64	3.08%	3.05%	3.12%	3.16%
65-69	2.92%	2.99%	2.77%	2.95%
70-74	3.19%	3.47%	2.19%	2.45%
75-79	3.04%	3.61%	1.61%	1.89%
80+	3.95%	6.61%	1.65%	2.42%

The chart above is a variation of a population pyramid and represents a comparison of age and gender structure. Japan has low demographic potential with 30.8% of people in the 0-34 age group compared to 44.1% and low potential in the United States.

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Japan			United States
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	55.2%	46.3%	8.91%	66.9%	52.2%	14.7%
1961	53.8%	44.8%	8.99%	67.6%	52.6%	15%
1962	51.4%	42.4%	9.01%	67.5%	52.4%	15.1%
1963	49%	40%	9.04%	67.2%	52%	15.2%
1964	47.1%	38%	9.11%	66.9%	51.6%	15.3%
1965	45.8%	36.6%	9.23%	66.6%	51.1%	15.4%
1966	44.6%	35.2%	9.41%	66%	50.4%	15.6%
1967	43.8%	34.2%	9.62%	65.1%	49.5%	15.6%
1968	43.6%	33.8%	9.8%	64.1%	48.4%	15.6%
1969	43.5%	33.5%	9.98%	63%	47.3%	15.7%
1970	43.5%	33.4%	10.1%	62%	46.3%	15.7%
1971	43.8%	33.4%	10.4%	60.9%	45.1%	15.8%
1972	44.5%	33.8%	10.7%	59.4%	43.6%	15.8%
1973	45.3%	34.3%	11%	57.8%	42%	15.8%
1974	46%	34.7%	11.3%	56.3%	40.5%	15.8%
1975	46.6%	34.9%	11.6%	54.9%	39%	15.9%
1976	47.1%	35.1%	12%	53.5%	37.5%	16%
1977	47.5%	35.2%	12.3%	52.4%	36.3%	16.1%
1978	47.9%	35.2%	12.7%	51.5%	35.2%	16.3%
1979	48.1%	35.1%	13.1%	50.8%	34.3%	16.5%
1980	48.2%	34.7%	13.4%	50.3%	33.7%	16.6%
1981	48.3%	34.5%	13.8%	50.1%	33.2%	16.8%
1982	48.4%	34.2%	14.2%	49.9%	33%	17%
1983	47.9%	33.5%	14.4%	49.9%	32.7%	17.2%
1984	47.6%	32.8%	14.8%	49.9%	32.5%	17.4%
1985	47.1%	31.9%	15.2%	49.8%	32.2%	17.6%
1986	46.4%	30.8%	15.6%	49.7%	32%	17.7%
1987	45.5%	29.6%	15.9%	49.9%	31.9%	18%
1988	44.6%	28.3%	16.4%	50.3%	32.1%	18.2%
1989	43.8%	27%	16.8%	50.8%	32.4%	18.4%
1990	43.2%	25.8%	17.4%	51.2%	32.6%	18.6%
1991	42.9%	24.9%	18.1%	51.7%	32.9%	18.7%
1992	42.9%	24.1%	18.8%	52%	33.2%	18.8%
1993	42.9%	23.4%	19.5%	52.2%	33.3%	18.9%
1994	43.1%	22.9%	20.2%	52.1%	33.3%	18.9%
1995	43.5%	22.4%	21%	52%	33.1%	18.9%
1996	44%	22.1%	21.9%	51.7%	32.9%	18.8%
1997	44.6%	21.8%	22.8%	51.3%	32.6%	18.7%
1998	45.2%	21.5%	23.7%	50.9%	32.3%	18.6%
1999	45.9%	21.3%	24.6%	50.4%	32%	18.4%
2000	46.7%	21.1%	25.6%	50%	31.8%	18.3%
2001	47.6%	21%	26.6%	49.6%	31.5%	18.2%
2002	48.5%	20.9%	27.6%	49.3%	31.2%	18.1%
2003	49.3%	20.8%	28.5%	48.9%	30.9%	18%
2004	50.3%	20.8%	29.5%	48.5%	30.5%	18%
2005	51.6%	20.8%	30.7%	48.1%	30.1%	18%
2006	53%	20.9%	32.1%	47.8%	29.8%	18%
2007	54.4%	21%	33.4%	47.8%	29.6%	18.2%
2008	55.7%	21.1%	34.7%	47.9%	29.4%	18.5%
2009	56.8%	21.1%	35.7%	48.1%	29.3%	18.8%
2010	57.4%	21%	36.4%	48.2%	29.2%	19%
2011	58.6%	21.1%	37.5%	48.5%	29.1%	19.4%
2012	60.5%	21.2%	39.4%	49%	29.1%	19.9%
2013	62.6%	21.3%	41.3%	49.5%	29%	20.5%
2014	64.5%	21.3%	43.1%	50%	29%	21%
2015	66%	21.3%	44.7%	50.4%	28.9%	21.5%
2016	67.3%	21.3%	46%	50.8%	28.8%	22%
2017	68.3%	21.2%	47.1%	51.2%	28.6%	22.6%
2018	69%	21.1%	47.9%	51.7%	28.5%	23.2%
2019	69.5%	21%	48.5%	52.2%	28.3%	23.8%
2020	69.9%	20.8%	49.1%	52.6%	28.1%	24.5%
2021	70.3%	20.5%	49.7%	53%	27.8%	25.2%
2022	70.2%	20.2%	50.1%	53.4%	27.4%	26%
2023	70.1%	19.8%	50.3%	53.9%	27.1%	26.8%
2024	70.1%	19.5%	50.7%	54.4%	26.8%	27.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64.

Age dependency in Japan increased from 50.3% to 70.1% between 2004 and 2024.

In the United States, the ratio of dependent people increased from 48.5% to 54.4% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of young people and an increased proportion of people aged 65+.

Working age demographic

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Japan	United States
1960	64.4%	59.9%
1961	65%	59.7%
1962	66.1%	59.7%
1963	67.1%	59.8%
1964	68%	59.9%
1965	68.6%	60%
1966	69.1%	60.2%
1967	69.5%	60.6%
1968	69.6%	60.9%
1969	69.7%	61.4%
1970	69.7%	61.7%
1971	69.5%	62.2%
1972	69.2%	62.7%
1973	68.8%	63.4%
1974	68.5%	64%
1975	68.2%	64.6%
1976	68%	65.1%
1977	67.8%	65.6%
1978	67.6%	66%
1979	67.5%	66.3%
1980	67.5%	66.5%
1981	67.4%	66.6%
1982	67.4%	66.7%
1983	67.6%	66.7%
1984	67.8%	66.7%
1985	68%	66.8%
1986	68.3%	66.8%
1987	68.7%	66.7%
1988	69.1%	66.5%
1989	69.5%	66.3%
1990	69.8%	66.1%
1991	70%	65.9%
1992	70%	65.8%
1993	70%	65.7%
1994	69.9%	65.7%
1995	69.7%	65.8%
1996	69.5%	65.9%
1997	69.2%	66.1%
1998	68.9%	66.3%
1999	68.5%	66.5%
2000	68.2%	66.7%
2001	67.7%	66.8%
2002	67.3%	67%
2003	67%	67.2%
2004	66.5%	67.3%
2005	66%	67.5%
2006	65.4%	67.7%
2007	64.8%	67.7%
2008	64.2%	67.6%
2009	63.8%	67.5%
2010	63.5%	67.5%
2011	63.1%	67.3%
2012	62.3%	67.1%
2013	61.5%	66.9%
2014	60.8%	66.7%
2015	60.2%	66.5%
2016	59.8%	66.3%
2017	59.4%	66.1%
2018	59.2%	65.9%
2019	59%	65.7%
2020	58.9%	65.5%
2021	58.7%	65.4%
2022	58.7%	65.2%
2023	58.8%	65%
2024	58.8%	64.7%
2025	58.8%	64.5%
2026	58.8%	64.3%
2027	58.7%	64%
2028	58.7%	63.8%
2029	58.6%	63.5%
2030	58.5%	63.4%
2031	58.4%	63.2%
2032	58.3%	63.1%
2033	58%	63%
2034	57.6%	62.8%
2035	57.2%	62.6%
2036	56.7%	62.4%
2037	56.1%	62.3%
2038	55.5%	62.2%
2039	54.8%	62.1%
2040	54.2%	62%
2041	53.7%	62%
2042	53.3%	61.9%
2043	52.9%	61.8%
2044	52.5%	61.7%
2045	52.2%	61.5%
2046	52%	61.4%
2047	51.8%	61.3%
2048	51.6%	61.2%
2049	51.4%	61.1%
2050	51.3%	61%

Between 2004 and 2024, the share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 changed from 66.5% to 58.8% in Japan and from 67.3% to 64.7% in the United States.

Share of young demographic (0-14 years old)

Table

Year	Share of people 0-14 years old
	Japan	United States
1960	29.8%	31.3%
1961	29.1%	31.4%
1962	28%	31.3%
1963	26.8%	31.1%
1964	25.8%	30.9%
1965	25.1%	30.7%
1966	24.4%	30.4%
1967	23.8%	30%
1968	23.5%	29.5%
1969	23.4%	29%
1970	23.3%	28.6%
1971	23.3%	28%
1972	23.4%	27.4%
1973	23.6%	26.6%
1974	23.8%	25.9%
1975	23.8%	25.2%
1976	23.9%	24.4%
1977	23.9%	23.8%
1978	23.8%	23.2%
1979	23.7%	22.8%
1980	23.4%	22.4%
1981	23.3%	22.1%
1982	23.1%	22%
1983	22.6%	21.8%
1984	22.2%	21.7%
1985	21.7%	21.5%
1986	21%	21.3%
1987	20.3%	21.3%
1988	19.5%	21.3%
1989	18.8%	21.5%
1990	18%	21.6%
1991	17.4%	21.7%
1992	16.9%	21.8%
1993	16.4%	21.9%
1994	16%	21.9%
1995	15.6%	21.8%
1996	15.3%	21.7%
1997	15.1%	21.5%
1998	14.8%	21.4%
1999	14.6%	21.3%
2000	14.4%	21.2%
2001	14.2%	21%
2002	14.1%	20.9%
2003	13.9%	20.7%
2004	13.8%	20.5%
2005	13.8%	20.3%
2006	13.7%	20.2%
2007	13.6%	20%
2008	13.5%	19.9%
2009	13.5%	19.8%
2010	13.4%	19.7%
2011	13.3%	19.6%
2012	13.2%	19.5%
2013	13.1%	19.4%
2014	13%	19.3%
2015	12.8%	19.2%
2016	12.7%	19.1%
2017	12.6%	18.9%
2018	12.5%	18.8%
2019	12.4%	18.6%
2020	12.2%	18.4%
2021	12%	18.1%
2022	11.9%	17.9%
2023	11.6%	17.6%
2024	11.4%	17.3%
2025	11.2%	17.1%
2026	11%	16.9%
2027	10.9%	16.7%
2028	10.7%	16.6%
2029	10.5%	16.4%
2030	10.4%	16.3%
2031	10.3%	16.1%
2032	10.2%	16%
2033	10.1%	16%
2034	10.1%	15.9%
2035	10.1%	15.9%
2036	10.1%	15.9%
2037	10.1%	15.9%
2038	10.2%	15.9%
2039	10.3%	15.9%
2040	10.4%	15.9%
2041	10.5%	16%
2042	10.6%	16%
2043	10.7%	16%
2044	10.8%	16%
2045	10.9%	16%
2046	11%	16%
2047	11.1%	16%
2048	11.2%	16%
2049	11.2%	15.9%
2050	11.2%	15.9%

The share of young people aged below 15 is 11.4% in Japan and 17.3% in The United States. Birth rates in Japan compared to The United States .

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Japan	United States
1960	5.74%	8.83%
1961	5.85%	8.93%
1962	5.95%	9.01%
1963	6.07%	9.07%
1964	6.19%	9.14%
1965	6.33%	9.26%
1966	6.5%	9.37%
1967	6.69%	9.45%
1968	6.83%	9.53%
1969	6.95%	9.62%
1970	7.06%	9.72%
1971	7.2%	9.81%
1972	7.39%	9.9%
1973	7.57%	10%
1974	7.74%	10.1%
1975	7.92%	10.3%
1976	8.13%	10.4%
1977	8.36%	10.6%
1978	8.6%	10.7%
1979	8.84%	10.9%
1980	9.07%	11.1%
1981	9.3%	11.2%
1982	9.54%	11.3%
1983	9.76%	11.5%
1984	10%	11.6%
1985	10.4%	11.7%
1986	10.6%	11.9%
1987	11%	12%
1988	11.3%	12.1%
1989	11.7%	12.2%
1990	12.2%	12.3%
1991	12.6%	12.4%
1992	13.1%	12.4%
1993	13.6%	12.4%
1994	14.1%	12.4%
1995	14.7%	12.4%
1996	15.2%	12.4%
1997	15.8%	12.4%
1998	16.3%	12.3%
1999	16.9%	12.2%
2000	17.4%	12.2%
2001	18%	12.1%
2002	18.6%	12.1%
2003	19.1%	12.1%
2004	19.6%	12.1%
2005	20.3%	12.1%
2006	21%	12.2%
2007	21.6%	12.3%
2008	22.3%	12.5%
2009	22.8%	12.7%
2010	23.1%	12.8%
2011	23.7%	13.1%
2012	24.5%	13.4%
2013	25.4%	13.7%
2014	26.2%	14%
2015	26.9%	14.3%
2016	27.5%	14.6%
2017	28%	14.9%
2018	28.3%	15.3%
2019	28.6%	15.7%
2020	28.9%	16.1%
2021	29.2%	16.5%
2022	29.4%	16.9%
2023	29.6%	17.4%
2024	29.8%	17.9%
2025	30%	18.4%
2026	30.2%	18.8%
2027	30.4%	19.3%
2028	30.6%	19.7%
2029	30.8%	20%
2030	31.1%	20.4%
2031	31.3%	20.6%
2032	31.5%	20.9%
2033	31.9%	21.1%
2034	32.3%	21.3%
2035	32.7%	21.5%
2036	33.2%	21.7%
2037	33.7%	21.8%
2038	34.3%	21.9%
2039	34.9%	22%
2040	35.3%	22%
2041	35.8%	22.1%
2042	36.1%	22.2%
2043	36.4%	22.2%
2044	36.6%	22.3%
2045	36.8%	22.5%
2046	37%	22.6%
2047	37.1%	22.7%
2048	37.2%	22.9%
2049	37.4%	23%
2050	37.5%	23.1%

The share of older people aged 65 and over is 29.8% in Japan and 17.9% in the United States. Life expectancy in Japan compared to the United States .