Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Japan: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Japan is placed 7th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 84.71 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 2.434 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
7th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 84.71Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 2.434Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- —Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024No reading for this country
- 1.4Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Japan on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
84.71
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Japan: 84.71. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 85.51 Hong Kong
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
2.434
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Japan: 2.434. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.434 Japan
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Japan, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.852 South Korea
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
1.4
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Japan: 1.4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.6 Mongolia
02Over time
Which way Japan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 81.18 in 2000 to 84.71 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2023 84.71 74.630 2022 84.05 74.313 2021 84.55 72.433 2020 84.67 73.063 2019 84.42 74.196 2018 84.29 74.081 2017 84.19 74.029 2016 84.06 74.013 2015 83.88 73.783 2014 83.64 73.330 2013 83.40 73.386 2012 83.17 73.210 2011 82.67 73.003 2010 82.92 72.827 2009 82.97 72.426 2008 82.63 72.264 2007 82.55 72.113 2006 82.37 72.027 2005 82.01 71.876 2004 82.13 71.477 2003 81.85 71.409 2002 81.80 71.173 2001 81.51 70.926 2000 81.18 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
JapanWorld median
Japan fell from 4.5 in 2000 to 2.434 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2024 2.434 14.5 2023 2.401 15.2 2022 2.381 14.7 2021 2.382 15.1 2020 2.407 15.3 2019 2.456 15.7 2018 2.521 16.3 2017 2.594 16.8 2016 2.673 17.5 2015 2.760 17.9 2014 2.856 18.3 2013 2.960 18.7 2012 3.066 18.8 2011 3.278 19.0 2010 3.269 19.2 2009 3.358 20.8 2008 3.445 20.7 2007 3.537 21.8 2006 3.638 22.8 2005 3.744 24.0 2004 3.855 25.9 2003 3.981 26.9 2002 4.127 28.0 2001 4.300 29.1 2000 4.500 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 0.5 in 2017 to 1.4 in 2024; the world median went from 4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2024 1.4 4.9 2023 1.1 4.7 2022 1.2 5.4 2021 0.9 5.7 2020 0.9 5.6 2019 0.7 5.0 2018 0.7 4.2 2017 0.5 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
Japan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Japan and Eastern Asia
Japan has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Koreacompare | 5th | 84.33 | 2.796 | 0.852 | 1.3 |
| Japan | 7th | 84.71 | 2.434 | 7.1 | 1.4 |
 Chinacompare | 47th | 77.95 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
 Mongolia | 71st | 71.73 | 13.42 | 8.8 | 0.6 |
 North Korea | 115th | 73.64 | 16.67 | 19.1 | — |
 Hong Kong | not placed | 85.51 | — | — | — |
 Macau | not placed | 83.07 | — | — | — |
 Taiwan | not placed | 80.56 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Japan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Japan is ahead of the world, and behind
35 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median24
Statistics on which Japan does better than the middle country measured.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1631.6558.163No real change since 2013
Japan: 1.655 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 199th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.170.25No real change since 2014
Japan: 0.17 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.8050.564No real change since 2010
Japan: 0.805 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 172 · derived.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3922.4916.39No real change since 2013
Japan: 22.49 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 4th of 222 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.261.81712.26No real change since 2014
Japan: 1.817 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 197th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1340.8688.134No real change since 2014
Japan: 0.868 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 197th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.461.73727.46No real change since 2013
Japan: 1.737 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 211th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.51.9625.5No real change since 2014
Japan: 1.962 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 153rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.653.0846.65▲ Improved since 2013
Japan: 3.08 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 183rd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.748.54133.7No real change since 2013
Japan: 48.54 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 203rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8580.8282.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Japan: 0.828 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 179th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.896.9No earlier reading
Japan: 99.8 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.9250.762No real change since 2013
Japan: 0.925 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 23rd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.96.120.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 6.1 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 119th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.0590.351▲ Improved since 2013
Japan: 0.059 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 22nd of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0051.322.005▲ Improved since 2016
Japan: 1.32 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35178.2272.35No earlier reading
Japan: 178.2 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.899.3▼ Worsened since 2014
Japan: 99.8 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 84 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5462.43.546No earlier reading
Japan: 2.4 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 110th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.413.226.4▼ Worsened since 2017
Japan: 13.2 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2575.671.25▲ Improved since 2013
Japan: 75.6 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 196 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909290▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 92 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.482.053.48▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 2.05 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4513.414.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Japan: 13.4 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 118th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which Japan does worse than the middle country measured.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2111.310.21No real change since 2010
Japan: 11.3 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 66th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.53065.5▲ Improved since 2018
Japan: 30 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6533.9977.65No earlier reading
Japan: 33.99 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 143rd of 144 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919191▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 91 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.558.274.55No real change since 2017
Japan: 8.27 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.7310.061.73Moved since 2014
Japan: 10.06 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 29th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2550.641.25Moved since 2013
Japan: 50.6 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.445.335.4Moved since 2013
Japan: 45.3 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.884.3636.88No earlier reading
Japan: 4.363 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8931.138.89Moved since 2015
Japan: 31.1 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 162nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.059.99220.05No earlier reading
Japan: 9.992 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
No current reading for Japan
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Caesarean Section Rate, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Dietary Energy Supply, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Meat Supply per Person, Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Undernourishment, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers (last 2008), Vegetable Supply per Person and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Japan’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Japan’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour2nd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation2nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture5th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing7th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 9th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge13th of 1982/4 keys
- Peace & Security12th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital18th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade25th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties28th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience55th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality56th of 1593/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 116th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability161st of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Japan can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysThis page
Japan7th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Japan and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Japan on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Japan rank on health & wellbeing?
Japan is placed 7th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Japan?
84.71 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Japan?
2.434 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How have Japan’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 81.18 in 2000 to 84.71 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 4.5 in 2000 to 2.434 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 0.5 in 2017 to 1.4 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Japan?
No current reading is published for Japan on Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Caesarean Section Rate, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Dietary Energy Supply, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Meat Supply per Person, Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Undernourishment, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers, Vegetable Supply per Person and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 35 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Japan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Japan (banner) — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Japan: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/japan/health