Japan: health and care

What are the main causes of death in Japan?

Cancer was the leading cause of death in Japan in 2025, with 378,829 deaths, 23.8% of the total, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's final vital statistics for 2025. Heart disease (excluding hypertensive) was second at 13.9% and old age (senility) third at 13.5%.

The ranking is the same as the year before. The age-adjusted death rate fell for both men and women.

Official sources: MHLW: vital statistics 2025, summary of results (PDF)

How many people die in Japan each year?

1,589,533 people died in Japan in 2025, 15,845 fewer than in 2024 and the first fall in five years, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's final vital statistics for 2025. With 671,270 births, the natural decrease was 918,263 people, the 19th year in a row that deaths exceeded births.

The death rate was 13.3 per 1,000 people, the same as the year before. The number of deaths is high mainly because of the age of the population.

Official sources: MHLW: vital statistics 2025, summary of results (PDF)

How much does Japan spend on health care?

National medical care expenditure was ¥48.09 trillion in fiscal 2023, up 3.0% on the year before, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's national medical care expenditure results for fiscal 2023. That was ¥386,700 per person and 8.08% of GDP.

The measure covers the cost of treating illness and injury at medical institutions and pharmacies. Its scope is narrower than the World Bank and WHO current health expenditure measure, which also counts items such as preventive care. Fiscal 2023 is the latest year published.

Official sources: MHLW: national medical care expenditure FY2023 (PDF)

How many suicides are there in Japan?

19,188 people died by suicide in Japan in 2025, 1,132 fewer than in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's report on suicide in 2025. Suicides fell for both men and women, but rose among people aged 19 and under. Suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students reached 538, the most since records began in 1980.

The report is based on National Police Agency suicide statistics.

Official sources: MHLW: suicide in 2025 (PDF)

How many people die from heatstroke in Japan?

1,610 people died from heatstroke in Japan in 2025, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's heatstroke deaths by month from vital statistics. That was fewer than the 2,160 recorded in 2024, the highest in the series since 2007. Almost all deaths, 1,554 in 2025, occur between May and September.

The counts come from death certificates where heatstroke is the underlying cause. Annual totals vary from year to year; 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025 all recorded more than 1,500 deaths.

Official sources: MHLW: heatstroke deaths by month, 2007–2025 (PDF)

How many doctors does Japan have?

Japan had 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to the World Bank's physicians indicator, which draws on WHO data. The figure was 2.5 in 2018.

The indicator counts practising doctors, including general practitioners and specialists, relative to the population. Japan's own figures on doctors by prefecture and specialty come from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's survey of physicians, dentists and pharmacists, which is carried out every two years.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Japan

How long do people live in Japan?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Japan was 84.0 years in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 84.6 years; its low point was 2005, at 82.0 years. It is 1st highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 71.5 years. World rank, highest first: 8th of 193.

How many babies die in Japan?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Japan was 1.8 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 30th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 13.9 per 1,000. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 188th highest.

How many women die in childbirth in Japan?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Japan was 3.0 per 100,000 in 2023. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 82.0 per 100,000, and Japan placed 29th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 180th of 192.

What share of GDP does Japan spend on health care?

The WHO puts current health spending in Japan at 10.7% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 12.3% of GDP; its low point was 2005, at 7.7% of GDP. East Asia & Pacific median: 5.9% of GDP; Japan is 7th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 20th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Japan?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Japan was 12.2% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2006, at 16.4%; its low point was 2021, at 10.8%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 12.2%, and Japan placed 15th highest of 29. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 155th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Japan?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2022, is 2.6 per 1,000. That is the highest since at least 2006. It is 6th highest of 11 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.6 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 58th of 125.

How many hospital beds does Japan have?

According to the WHO, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Japan was 12.6 per 1,000 in 2022. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.7 per 1,000; Japan is 2nd highest of 12. Of 110 countries with 2022 data, 2nd highest.

How many children in Japan are vaccinated against measles?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Japan was 95.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. The peak was 98.0% in 2005 and the low 94.0% in 2009. It is 12th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 91.0%. Worldwide: 60th of 191.