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Japan

Health data overview for Japan

Population 123 951 688 (2022)
Current health expenditure (% of GDP) 10.82 (2021)
WHO region Western Pacific
World Bank income level High income (HIC)
Locator

Population, Japan

Overall Population over time

In Japan, the current population is 123,951,688 as of 2022 with a projected decrease of 16% to 103,784,354 by 2050.

Population growth rate

Japan, 2022

Population growth rate

‎−0.53% ‎−0.026 percentage points change since 2021 rate

Population trend

Japan, 2000 - 2050

Overall Population over time

CountrySummary200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032203320342035203620372038203920402041204220432044204520462047204820492050 Japan In Japan, the overall Population over time has decreased by ▼ 23,000,000 number from 130,000,000 in 2000 to 100,000,000 in 2050. 127m 127m 127m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 128m 127m 127m 127m 127m 126m 126m 125m 125m 124m 123m (projected) 123m (projected) 122m (projected) 121m (projected) 121m (projected) 120m (projected) 119m (projected) 119m (projected) 118m (projected) 117m (projected) 116m (projected) 116m (projected) 115m (projected) 114m (projected) 113m (projected) 113m (projected) 112m (projected) 111m (projected) 110m (projected) 110m (projected) 109m (projected) 108m (projected) 107m (projected) 107m (projected) 106m (projected) 105m (projected) 104m (projected) 104m (projected)

Age distribution of population (%)

Japan, 2022

Broad Age distribution of population

0-14, 2022: 13.4%15-64, 2022: 62.4%65+, 2022: 24.2%

Demographic change 2023 - 2050

2023

Population by age and sex. Japan

Population count UNPD 2022

85+: Female 4,850,000, Male 2,370,000 80-84: Female 3,520,000, Male 2,590,000 75-79: Female 4,140,000, Male 3,460,000 70-74: Female 4,670,000, Male 4,210,000 65-69: Female 3,720,000, Male 3,550,000 60-64: Female 3,730,000, Male 3,680,000 55-59: Female 4,050,000, Male 4,070,000 50-54: Female 4,620,000, Male 4,700,000 45-49: Female 4,490,000, Male 4,610,000 40-44: Female 3,710,000, Male 3,820,000 35-39: Female 3,350,000, Male 3,470,000 30-34: Female 3,030,000, Male 3,180,000 25-29: Female 2,990,000, Male 3,130,000 20-24: Female 2,910,000, Male 3,040,000 15-19: Female 2,680,000, Male 2,800,000 10-14: Female 2,560,000, Male 2,680,000 5-9: Female 2,330,000, Male 2,440,000 0-4: Female 2,010,000, Male 2,110,000

2050

Population by age and sex. Japan

Population count UNPD 2022

85+: Female 6,210,000, Male 3,470,000 80-84: Female 3,620,000, Male 2,930,000 75-79: Female 4,370,000, Male 3,900,000 70-74: Female 3,920,000, Male 3,700,000 65-69: Female 3,440,000, Male 3,370,000 60-64: Female 3,170,000, Male 3,210,000 55-59: Female 3,020,000, Male 3,120,000 50-54: Female 3,060,000, Male 3,160,000 45-49: Female 2,950,000, Male 3,050,000 40-44: Female 2,820,000, Male 2,920,000 35-39: Female 2,660,000, Male 2,760,000 30-34: Female 2,320,000, Male 2,410,000 25-29: Female 2,120,000, Male 2,210,000 20-24: Female 2,070,000, Male 2,160,000 15-19: Female 2,020,000, Male 2,120,000 10-14: Female 1,970,000, Male 2,060,000 5-9: Female 1,890,000, Male 1,990,000 0-4: Female 1,780,000, Male 1,870,000

Life expectancy, Japan Learn more

Life expectancy at birth

The average number of years that a newborn could expect to live. Japan, both sexes, 2000 - 2021.

Life expectancy at birth (years)

Spatial dimensionSummary20002010201520192021 Female In Female, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 2.79 years from 84.4 years in 2000 to 87.2 years in 2021. 84.4 85.8 86.4 86.9 87.2 Male In Male, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 4.02 years from 77.7 years in 2000 to 81.7 years in 2021. 77.7 79.5 80.7 81.5 81.7 Total In Total, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 3.34 years from 81.1 years in 2000 to 84.5 years in 2021. 81.1 82.7 83.6 84.3 84.5

Life expectancy at birth (years)

In Japan, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 3.34 years from 81.1 years in 2000 to 84.5 years in 2021.

Life expectancy at birth (years)

In Western Pacific, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 5 years from 72.4 years in 2000 to 77.4 years in 2021.

What is the difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy?

"Life expectancy" refers to the number of years a person can expect to live. It is an important way of assessing the health of a population and is used to inform health policy and initiatives that impact everyday life.

"Life expectancy at birth" is the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live, (the average age of death) while "Healthy life expectancy (HALE) at birth" is the average number of years that a person could expect to live in "full health" from birth. This measurement takes into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury.
* The lack of complete and reliable mortality data, especially for low income countries and particularly on mortality among adults and the elderly, necessitates the application of modelling  to estimate life expectancy. This may lead to minor differences compared with official life tables prepared by Member States.

Leading causes of death, Japan

Leading cause of death

Japan, 2019

Leading causes of death

Ischaemic heart disease

Leading cause of under 5 mortality

Japan, 2019

Leading causes of death

Congenital anomalies

Top causes of death

Deaths per 100 000 population. Japan, 2019

Leading causes of death

Ischaemic heart disease 129.1
Stroke 95.9
Lower respiratory infections 85
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers 62.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 61.5
Colon and rectum cancers 45.1
Alzheimer disease and other dementias 44.8
Stomach cancer 39.7
Kidney diseases 35.3
Pancreas cancer 29.2

Share of deaths by broad cause

Japan, 2019

Share of deaths

Sort by dimension alphabetically Sort by last value Sort by first value Sort by change
Noncommunicable diseases 173.5k
Communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions 21.1k
Injuries 10.1k
Why and how are causes of death monitored?

Understanding the reasons why people die helps with the understanding of how they lived, in order to improve health services and reduce preventable deaths in every country, responding effectively to changing circumstances. Annual monitoring of causes of death allows countries to address their causes and adapt health systems to react effectively.

The leading causes of death are statistical estimates based on available data. These estimates are produced using data from multiple sources, including national vital registration data, latest estimates from WHO technical programmes, United Nations partners and inter-agency groups, as well as the Global Burden of Disease and other scientific studies. Before publishing, they are reviewed by WHO Member States through consultation with national focal points and WHO country and regional offices.

The top ten causes of death are statistical estimates based on available data. Multiple years of national death registration data with high completeness and quality of cause-of-death assignment is available for Japan. These estimates may be compared among countries and used for priority setting and policy evaluation.

Health statistics, Japan Explore indicators

Number of new HIV infections

Japan, latest

New HIV infections (per 1000 uninfected population)

Data not available

People living with tuberculosis (TB)

Japan, 2022

Tuberculosis incidence (per 100 000 population)

9.5 [8.1 - 11] ‎−1.5 improving since 2021 Number of TB cases per year per 100 000 population.

Malaria cases

Japan, 2021

Malaria incidence (per 1000 population at risk)

Data not available

Probability of dying from non-communicable diseases

Japan, 2019

Probability of premature mortality from NCDs

8% [7.43% - 9.17%] ‎±0 percentage points stable since 2018 Percentage of 30-year-old people who would die before their 70th birthday from non-communicable diseases

Road traffic deaths

Japan, 2021

Road traffic mortality rate (per 100 000 population)

2.7 Number of road traffic deaths per 100 000 population

Suicide deaths

Japan, 2019

Suicide mortality rate (per 100 000 population)

15.34 [14.17 - 16.33] ‎−1.37 improving since 2018 Number of suicide deaths in a given year

Health target progress, Japan

WHO Triple billion targets Triple billion data

Projected number of additional people expected to be enjoying better health and wellbeing

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall Population healthier

In Japan, the number of additional people expected to be enjoying better health and wellbeing is projected to be 6.5m (‎−1.1m – 12.9m) by 2025 compared to 2018.

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall Population healthier

CountrySummary20182019202020212022202320242025 Japan In Japan, the overall Population healthier has increased by ▲ 7,000,000 number of additional people expected to be enjoying better health and wellbeing from 0 [0 - 0] in 2018 to 7,000,000 [‎−1,000,000 - 10,000,000] in 2025. 0 [0 – 0] 884k [774k – 985k] 2.2m [659k – 3.6m] 3.2m [816k – 5.4m] 3.9m [258k – 7.1m] 4.8m [‎−229k – 9.1m] 5.7m [‎−618k – 10.8m] 6.5m [‎−1.1m – 12.9m]

Projected number of additional people expected to be covered by essential health services and not experiencing financial hardship

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall UHC Billion

In Japan, the number of additional people expected to be covered by essential services and not experiencing financial hardship is projected to be ‎−1m (‎−4.4m – 2.1m) by 2025 compared to 2018.

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall UHC Billion

CountrySummary20182019202020212022202320242025 Japan In Japan, the number of overall UHC Billion has decreased by ▼ 970,000 number of additional people expected to be covered by essential services and not experiencing financial hardship from 0 [0 - 0] in 2018 to ‎−970,000 [‎−4,400,000 - 2,100,000] in 2025. 0 [0 – 0] ‎−962k [‎−1.8m – ‎−237k] ‎−2.1m [‎−3.2m – ‎−1.1m] ‎−2.2m [‎−3.6m – ‎−884k] ‎−1.2m [‎−3.5m – 1.1m] ‎−1.1m [‎−3.9m – 1.5m] ‎−1m [‎−4.2m – 1.8m] ‎−967k [‎−4.4m – 2.1m]

Projected number of additional people expected to be protected from health emergencies

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall HEPI

In Japan, the number of additional people expected to be protected from health emergencies is projected to be 10.2m (5.8m – 12.8m) by 2025 compared to 2018.

Japan, 2018 - 2025

Overall HEPI

CountrySummary20182019202020212022202320242025 Japan In Japan, the number of overall HEPI has increased by ▲ 10,000,000 number of additional people expected to be protected from health emergencies from 0 [0 - 0] in 2018 to 10,000,000 [6,000,000 - 10,000,000] in 2025. 0 [0 – 0] 3m [3m – 3m] 3m [3m – 3m] 6.7m [6.7m – 6.7m] 9.8m [9.8m – 9.8m] 9.3m [6.4m – 10.9m] 9.7m [5.8m – 12.3m] 10.2m [5.8m – 12.8m]
What are the triple billion targets?

The WHO Triple Billion targets measure impact on people's health to ensure that more people are enjoying better health and wellbeing, are benefitting from Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and are better protected from health emergencies.

The estimates are underpinned by 46 outcome indicators. They include 39 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators and seven non-SDG indicators. These offer a flexible approach to each of the Triple Billion targets, allowing countries to prioritize certain indicators based on their national health strategy, ensuring the Triple Billion strategy remains relevant for all Member States and their unique health challenges.

Health emergency data, Japan

International health regulations capacities, Japan, 2023

Nationally self-assessed scores for each of the 15 core capacities required to detect, assess, notify and respond to any potential public health events of international concern.

State Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting

Sort by dimension alphabetically Sort by last value Sort by first value Sort by change
IHR Coordination, National IHR Focal Point functions and advocacy 100
Financing 100
Laboratory 100
Surveillance 100
Human resources 100
Health emergency management 100
Health services provision 100
Infection prevention and control (IPC) 100
Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) 100
Points of entry (PoEs) and border health 100
Zoonotic diseases 100
Food safety 100
Chemical events 100
Radiation emergencies 100
Policy, Legal and normative Instruments to implement IHR 80

Emergency dashboards

WHO COVID-19 dashboard, Japan Mpox global trends WHO Health Emergency dashboard

Further resources

National Statistics Office WHO country website WHO Americas WHO Global country page WHO Global

Reference metadata

Reference data

ISO alpha 2 code JP
ISO alpha 3 code JPN
M49 code 392
WHO short name Japan
Formal name Japan
Administrative level Admin 0

Regional groupings and country classifications

WHO region Western Pacific
UN region Asia > Eastern Asia
World Bank income level High income (HIC)

Data sources

Population dataUNDESA population division, World Population Prospects 2022, Extracted: 15 May 2024
Current Health Expenditure (CHE) as % of GDPWorld Health Organization, Global Health Expenditure database, Extracted: 8 January 2024
Life expectancy and Healthy life expectancy (HALE)World Health Organization, Global Health Estimates, Extracted: 8 January 2024
Causes of deathWorld Health Organization, Global Health Estimates, Extracted: 22 November 2022
Health Statistics and International Health RegulationsWorld Health Organization, Health indicators
Disease BurdenWorld Health Organization, Global Health Estimates, Burden of Disease, Extracted: 22 November 2022
Triple BillionWorld Health Organization, Global Progress Dashboard, Triple Billion targets
Birth registrationUnited Nations Statistics Division, 2023, Quality of vital statistics obtained from civil registration page on the United Nations Demographic Yearbook Vital Statistics Questionnaire. Extracted: 15 May 2024
Death registrationUnited Nations Statistics Division, 2023, Quality of vital statistics obtained from civil registration page on the United Nations Demographic Yearbook Vital Statistics Questionnaire. Extracted: 15 May 2024
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