Birth seasonality in Japan
Japan: Birth seasonality was 16.05 births per million people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
16.05 births per million people
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
38th
of 40 countries
All-time high
80.81 births per million people
in 1949
All-time low
16.05 births per million people
in 2023
Years of data
125
1899–2023
Birth seasonality in Japan, 1899–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per million people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth seasonality in Japan is 16.05 births per million people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 125 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth seasonality in Japan peaked at 80.81 births per million people in 1949 and was at its lowest, 16.05 births per million people, in 2023.
Japan ranks 38th of 40 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 125 years of available data.
Birth seasonality in Japan, year by year
| Year | births per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 55.14 births per million people | — |
| 1900 | 50.84 births per million people | -7.8% |
| 1901 | 53.63 births per million people | +5.5% |
| 1902 | 54.45 births per million people | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 52.39 births per million people | -3.8% |
| 1904 | 51.43 births per million people | -1.8% |
| 1905 | 59.32 births per million people | +15.3% |
| 1906 | 51.4 births per million people | -13.3% |
| 1907 | 53.7 births per million people | +4.5% |
| 1908 | 56 births per million people | +4.3% |
| 1909 | 53.88 births per million people | -3.8% |
| 1910 | 54.69 births per million people | +1.5% |
| 1911 | 55.67 births per million people | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 56.51 births per million people | +1.5% |
| 1913 | 55.74 births per million people | -1.4% |
| 1914 | 57.73 births per million people | +3.6% |
| 1915 | 57.9 births per million people | +0.3% |
| 1916 | 50.83 births per million people | -12.2% |
| 1917 | 55.41 births per million people | +9.0% |
| 1918 | 51.74 births per million people | -6.6% |
| 1919 | 64.51 births per million people | +24.7% |
| 1920 | 54.94 births per million people | -14.8% |
| 1921 | 57.19 births per million people | +4.1% |
| 1922 | 53.36 births per million people | -6.7% |
| 1923 | 57.83 births per million people | +8.4% |
| 1924 | 58.1 births per million people | +0.5% |
| 1925 | 65.64 births per million people | +13.0% |
| 1926 | 60.63 births per million people | -7.6% |
| 1927 | 55.23 births per million people | -8.9% |
| 1928 | 59.85 births per million people | +8.4% |
| 1929 | 60.3 births per million people | +0.7% |
| 1930 | 60.29 births per million people | -0.0% |
| 1931 | 58.32 births per million people | -3.3% |
| 1932 | 59.92 births per million people | +2.7% |
| 1933 | 64.18 births per million people | +7.1% |
| 1934 | 58.21 births per million people | -9.3% |
| 1935 | 65.07 births per million people | +11.8% |
| 1936 | 58.4 births per million people | -10.3% |
| 1937 | 65.75 births per million people | +12.6% |
| 1938 | 53.34 births per million people | -18.9% |
| 1939 | 57 births per million people | +6.9% |
| 1940 | 65.56 births per million people | +15.0% |
| 1941 | 72.94 births per million people | +11.3% |
| 1942 | 65.57 births per million people | -10.1% |
| 1943 | 70.95 births per million people | +8.2% |
| 1944 | 54.15 births per million people | -23.7% |
| 1945 | 47.75 births per million people | -11.8% |
| 1946 | 68.56 births per million people | +43.6% |
| 1947 | 77.46 births per million people | +13.0% |
| 1948 | 75.93 births per million people | -2.0% |
| 1949 | 80.81 births per million people | +6.4% |
| 1950 | 72.1 births per million people | -10.8% |
| 1951 | 62.73 births per million people | -13.0% |
| 1952 | 55.66 births per million people | -11.3% |
| 1953 | 54 births per million people | -3.0% |
| 1954 | 50.53 births per million people | -6.4% |
| 1955 | 48.91 births per million people | -3.2% |
| 1956 | 45.26 births per million people | -7.5% |
| 1957 | 44.83 births per million people | -1.0% |
| 1958 | 47.65 births per million people | +6.3% |
| 1959 | 44.34 births per million people | -6.9% |
| 1960 | 44.18 births per million people | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 45.45 births per million people | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 45.03 births per million people | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 46.14 births per million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 49.02 births per million people | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 47.75 births per million people | -2.6% |
| 1966 | 43.95 births per million people | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 48.91 births per million people | +11.3% |
| 1968 | 51.58 births per million people | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 50.58 births per million people | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 52.35 births per million people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 51.47 births per million people | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 51.58 births per million people | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 51.76 births per million people | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 47.59 births per million people | -8.0% |
| 1975 | 45.47 births per million people | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 42.37 births per million people | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 40.44 births per million people | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 39.75 births per million people | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 38.26 births per million people | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 35.31 births per million people | -7.7% |
| 1981 | 34.69 births per million people | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 34.83 births per million people | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 34.48 births per million people | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 33.33 births per million people | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 31.84 births per million people | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 31.08 births per million people | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 29.53 births per million people | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 28.46 births per million people | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 28.19 births per million people | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 26.74 births per million people | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 27.23 births per million people | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 26.37 births per million people | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 26.09 births per million people | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 27.13 births per million people | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 25.3 births per million people | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 25.68 births per million people | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 25.88 births per million people | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 25.88 births per million people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 25.36 births per million people | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 25.49 births per million people | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 24.55 births per million people | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 24.33 births per million people | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 24.21 births per million people | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 23.72 births per million people | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 22.46 births per million people | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 23.58 births per million people | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 23.28 births per million people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 23.58 births per million people | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 23.38 births per million people | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 22.96 births per million people | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 21.81 births per million people | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 22.06 births per million people | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 22.16 births per million people | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 22.13 births per million people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 21.73 births per million people | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 20.53 births per million people | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 20.57 births per million people | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 19.52 births per million people | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 18.91 births per million people | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 17.45 births per million people | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 17.5 births per million people | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 16.45 births per million people | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 16.05 births per million people | -2.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 16.05 births per million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.05 births per million people, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Japan's 16.05 births per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.36 births per million people, 69% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Birth seasonality in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +43.6% | 47.75 births per million people | 68.56 births per million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 55.14 births per million people | 55.14 births per million people | 55.14 births per million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 53.7 births per million people | 50.84 births per million people | 59.32 births per million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 56.07 births per million people | 50.83 births per million people | 64.51 births per million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 58.31 births per million people | 53.36 births per million people | 65.64 births per million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 60.05 births per million people | 53.34 births per million people | 65.75 births per million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 67.97 births per million people | 47.75 births per million people | 80.81 births per million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 52.6 births per million people | 44.34 births per million people | 72.1 births per million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.26 births per million people | 43.95 births per million people | 51.58 births per million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.1 births per million people | 38.26 births per million people | 52.35 births per million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.17 births per million people | 28.19 births per million people | 35.31 births per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.17 births per million people | 25.3 births per million people | 27.23 births per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.86 births per million people | 22.46 births per million people | 25.49 births per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.24 births per million people | 18.91 births per million people | 22.96 births per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.86 births per million people | 16.05 births per million people | 17.5 births per million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.83 million people (2100)
- Population density 210.83 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2372 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.5891 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth seasonality in Japan?
- Birth seasonality in Japan was 16.05 births per million people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth seasonality recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 80.81 births per million people in 1949.
- What is the lowest birth seasonality recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.05 births per million people in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for birth seasonality?
- Japan ranks 38th out of 40 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth seasonality rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth seasonality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 125 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average daily number of births, per million people, calculated for December.