Natural population growth in Japan
Japan: Natural population growth was -0.6228 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-0.6228
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
229th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.76
in 1950
All-time low
-0.663
in 2022
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Natural population growth in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, natural population growth in Japan stood at -0.6228.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and down 180.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth in Japan peaked at 1.76 in 1950 and was at its lowest, -0.663, in 2022.
Japan ranks 229th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Natural population growth in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.76 | — |
| 1951 | 1.56 | -10.9% |
| 1952 | 1.47 | -6.2% |
| 1953 | 1.28 | -12.8% |
| 1954 | 1.21 | -5.3% |
| 1955 | 1.18 | -2.5% |
| 1956 | 1.06 | -10.3% |
| 1957 | 0.9126 | -13.9% |
| 1958 | 1.06 | +16.5% |
| 1959 | 1.02 | -4.0% |
| 1960 | 0.9656 | -5.4% |
| 1961 | 0.9403 | -2.6% |
| 1962 | 0.9375 | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 1.01 | +8.0% |
| 1964 | 1.06 | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 1.13 | +6.1% |
| 1966 | 0.771 | -31.7% |
| 1967 | 1.23 | +60.1% |
| 1968 | 1.15 | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 1.12 | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 1.13 | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 1.25 | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 1.29 | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 1.31 | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 1.24 | -5.6% |
| 1975 | 1.1 | -10.9% |
| 1976 | 1 | -8.8% |
| 1977 | 0.9318 | -7.2% |
| 1978 | 0.8797 | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 0.8249 | -6.2% |
| 1980 | 0.7224 | -12.4% |
| 1981 | 0.6609 | -8.5% |
| 1982 | 0.6395 | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 0.6007 | -6.1% |
| 1984 | 0.5763 | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 0.5104 | -11.4% |
| 1986 | 0.4661 | -8.7% |
| 1987 | 0.4363 | -6.4% |
| 1988 | 0.3719 | -14.8% |
| 1989 | 0.3278 | -11.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2803 | -14.5% |
| 1991 | 0.2812 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 0.2469 | -12.2% |
| 1993 | 0.2128 | -13.8% |
| 1994 | 0.2435 | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 0.1788 | -26.6% |
| 1996 | 0.2127 | +19.0% |
| 1997 | 0.194 | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 0.1835 | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 0.1338 | -27.1% |
| 2000 | 0.1594 | +19.1% |
| 2001 | 0.1409 | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 0.117 | -17.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0693 | -40.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0444 | -35.9% |
| 2005 | -0.0342 | -177.0% |
| 2006 | -0.0247 | -27.8% |
| 2007 | -0.0435 | +76.1% |
| 2008 | -0.069 | +58.6% |
| 2009 | -0.0833 | +20.7% |
| 2010 | -0.1287 | +54.5% |
| 2011 | -0.1891 | +46.9% |
| 2012 | -0.2029 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | -0.2224 | +9.6% |
| 2014 | -0.2468 | +11.0% |
| 2015 | -0.2624 | +6.3% |
| 2016 | -0.3001 | +14.4% |
| 2017 | -0.3511 | +17.0% |
| 2018 | -0.3935 | +12.1% |
| 2019 | -0.4478 | +13.8% |
| 2020 | -0.4613 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | -0.5369 | +16.4% |
| 2022 | -0.663 | +23.5% |
| 2023 | -0.6228 | -6.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -0.6228 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.1118. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's -0.6228 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8367. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Natural population growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -177.0% | 0.0444 | -0.0342 |
| 1967 | +60.1% | 0.771 | 1.23 |
| 2007 | -76.1% | -0.0247 | -0.0435 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.25 | 0.9126 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.03 | 0.771 | 1.23 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.1 | 0.8249 | 1.31 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5312 | 0.3278 | 0.7224 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2167 | 0.1338 | 0.2812 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0276 | -0.0833 | 0.1594 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.2745 | -0.4478 | -0.1287 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.571 | -0.663 | -0.4613 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 103,784 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.5891 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2372 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.501 (2100)
- Population density 210.83 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.83 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is natural population growth in Japan?
- Natural population growth in Japan was -0.6228 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.76 in 1950.
- What is the lowest natural population growth recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.663 in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for natural population growth?
- Japan ranks 229th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 180.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Natural population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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