Children's health in Japan - statistics & facts

As the infant mortality rate in Japan has decreased continuously, the island nation currently ranks among the top five countries globally with the lowest infant mortality rate. This is likely attributed to factors such as Japanese lifestyle and widespread healthcare accessibility such as pediatrics.

Infant mortality rate
1.8 deaths per 1k live births

Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments
****k

Number of cancer cases among children
*k

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Current statistics on this topic

Hospitals

Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments Japan 2014-2023

Diseases

Estimated number of children's cancer cases in Japan 2025-2050

Anxiety & Fear

Number of suicides among pupils in Japan AY 2014-2024

Overview

Projected life expectancy at birth East Asia 2026, by country
Projected life expectancy at birth East Asia 2026, by country
Projected life expectancy at birth in East Asia in 2026, by country or territory
Number of live births Japan 2015-2024
Number of live births Japan 2015-2024
Number of live births in Japan from 2015 to 2024
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in Japan 1960-2023
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in Japan 1960-2023
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in Japan from 1960 to 2023
Main causes for boys' infant death 2023, by cause
Main causes for boys' infant death 2023, by cause
Main causes for infant death among boys in Japan in 2023, by cause
Main causes for girls' infant death 2023, by cause
Main causes for girls' infant death 2023, by cause
Main causes for infant death among girls in Japan in 2023, by cause

Pediatrics

Number of pediatrics working at medical facilities Japan 2000-2022
Number of pediatrics working at medical facilities Japan 2000-2022
Number of pediatrics working at medical facilities in Japan from 2000 to 2022 (in 1,000s)
Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments in Japan from 2014 to 2023
Number of general hospitals with pediatric surgery departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with pediatric surgery departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with pediatric surgery departments in Japan from 2014 to 2023
Number of general hospitals with child dentistry departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with child dentistry departments Japan 2014-2023
Number of general hospitals with child dentistry departments in Japan from 2014 to 2023

School children with medical needs

Number of sick children in special needs schools Japan FY 2022, by school level
Number of sick children in special needs schools Japan FY 2022, by school level
Number of children with medical needs enrolled in special needs schools in Japan in fiscal year 2022, by school level
Number of sick children enrolled in schools Japan FY 2022, by school level
Number of sick children enrolled in schools Japan FY 2022, by school level
Number of children with medical needs enrolled in schools in Japan in fiscal year 2022, by school level (in 1,000s)
Number of sick children in schools Japan FY 2022, by school type
Number of sick children in schools Japan FY 2022, by school type
Number of children with medical needs enrolled in schools in Japan in fiscal year 2022, by school type
Share of sick children missing school Japan FY 2022, by treatment place
Share of sick children missing school Japan FY 2022, by treatment place
Share of children with medical needs missing school in Japan in fiscal year 2022, by treatment place

Common diseases

Estimated number of children's cancer cases in Japan 2025-2050
Estimated number of children's cancer cases in Japan 2025-2050
Estimated number of cancer cases among children in Japan from 2025 to 2050 (in 1,000s)
Number of children's cancer cases in Japan 2021, by type of cancer
Number of children's cancer cases in Japan 2021, by type of cancer
Number of cancer cases among children in Japan in 2021, by type of cancer
Share of school children with eye visual acuity below 1.0 Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with eye visual acuity below 1.0 Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with eye visual acuity below 1.0 in Japan from fiscal year 2013 to 2023
Share of school children with ear diseases Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with ear diseases Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with ear diseases in Japan in fiscal year 2013 to 2023
Share of school children with nose diseases Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with nose diseases Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with nose diseases in Japan in fiscal year 2013 to 2023
Share of school children with atopic dermatitis Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with atopic dermatitis Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with atopic dermatitis in Japan from fiscal year 2013 to 2023
Share of school children with asthma Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with asthma Japan FY 2013-2023
Share of school children with asthma in Japan in fiscal year 2013 to 2023

Obesity and underweight

Share of obese boys in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of obese boys in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of obese-prone boys in Japan in fiscal year 2023, by age
Share of obese girls in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of obese girls in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of obese-prone girls in Japan in fiscal year 2023, by age
Share of underweight boys in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of underweight boys in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of underweight boys in Japan in fiscal year 2023, by age
Share of underweight girls in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of underweight girls in Japan FY 2023, by age
Share of underweight girls in Japan in fiscal year 2023, by age

Fitness

Rate of children doing sports in Japan 2023, by frequency
Rate of children doing sports in Japan 2023, by frequency
Sport participation rate among children in Japan as of July 2023, by frequency
Most popular exercise or sports among children in Japan 2023, by type
Most popular exercise or sports among children in Japan 2023, by type
Most frequently carried out exercises or sports among children in Japan as of July 2023, by exercise and sports type
Children's opinion on exercising and doing sports Japan 2021
Children's opinion on exercising and doing sports Japan 2021
Attitude of children towards exercise and sports in Japan in 2021
Children with disabilities participating in sports in Japan 2013-2024, by frequency
Children with disabilities participating in sports in Japan 2013-2024, by frequency
Sports participation rate of children and adolescents with disabilities in Japan from 2013 to 2024, by frequency
Most common sports played by children with disabilities in Japan 2024, by type
Most common sports played by children with disabilities in Japan 2024, by type
Most common sports played by children with disabilities in Japan as of December 2024, by type

Mental health

Number of patients with mental disorders Japan 2023, by age and illness type
Number of patients with mental disorders Japan 2023, by age and illness type
Estimated number of patients per day with mental and behavioral disorders in Japan in October 2023, by age group and illness type (in 1,000s)
Number of new hospitalized patients under 20 years with anorexia Japan FY 2019-2022
Number of new hospitalized patients under 20 years with anorexia Japan FY 2019-2022
Number of new hospitalized patients under 20 years old with anorexia nervosa in Japan from fiscal year 2019 to 2022
Number of suicides among pupils in Japan AY 2014-2024
Number of suicides among pupils in Japan AY 2014-2024
Total number of suicides committed by students in Japan from academic year 2014 to 2024
Surrounding circumstances of pupils committing suicides in Japan AY 2024
Surrounding circumstances of pupils committing suicides in Japan AY 2024
Share of primary circumstances under which students who committed suicide were in Japan in academic year 2024
Number of reported bullying cases among pupils in Japan AY 2014-2024
Number of reported bullying cases among pupils in Japan AY 2014-2024
Total number of reported bullying incidents among students in Japan from academic year 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s)
Number of cyberbullying cases at elementary schools in Japan FY 2014-2023
Number of cyberbullying cases at elementary schools in Japan FY 2014-2023
Number of cyberbullying incidents among students reported by elementary schools in Japan from fiscal year 2014 to 2023

Infant mortality rate
1.8 deaths per 1k live births

Number of general hospitals with pediatrics departments
****k

Number of cancer cases among children
*k

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Children's health in Japan" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Number of child care facilities
- **k
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Detailed statistics
Number of child care facilities Japan 2016-2025, by type
- Number of full-time child care workers
- ******k
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Detailed statistics
Number of full-time child care workers Japan 2013-2022
- Governmental budget for child care-related measures
- ***tn JPY
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Detailed statistics
Governmental budget for child care-related measures Japan FY 2015-2022, by source

- Share of parents feeling anxious about their child's eating habits
- **%
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Detailed statistics
Share of parents feeling anxious about their child's eating habits Japan 2023
- Share of parents who are interested in dietary education
- ****%
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Detailed statistics
Level of interest in dietary education among parents Japan 2023
- Share of parents practicing dietary education
- ****%
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Detailed statistics
Share of parents already practicing dietary education Japan 2023
- Main reasons for parents to not practice dietary education
- Lack of time for cooking
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Detailed statistics
Main reasons for parents to not practice dietary education Japan 2023