Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan
Japan: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 1.15 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan is 1.15 births per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan peaked at 2.23 births per woman in 1967 and was at its lowest, 1.15 births per woman, in 2024.
Japan ranks 201st of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.02 births per woman | 1.58 births per woman | 2.23 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.97 births per woman | 1.77 births per woman | 2.16 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.73 births per woman | 1.57 births per woman | 1.81 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.45 births per woman | 1.34 births per woman | 1.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.32 births per woman | 1.26 births per woman | 1.37 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.41 births per woman | 1.36 births per woman | 1.45 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 births per woman | 1.15 births per woman | 1.33 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 210.83 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.83 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.15 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.15 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 29,068 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.2 children per women (2023)
- Birth rate by women's age group 1.74 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Japan was 1.15 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.23 births per woman in 1967.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.15 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Japan rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Japan ranks 201st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.