This is a list of Japanese prefectures by life expectancy.
Japan is officially divided into 47 top-level administrative divisions: 43 prefectures proper, 2 urban prefectures (Osaka and Kyoto), 1 "circuit" (Hokkaido), and 1 "metropolis" (Tokyo). Although different in name, they are functionally the same.
In Japan, the maximum life expectancy was recorded in 2020 (84.7 years). After that, there were two years of decline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, totalling 0.6 years. In 2023, an increase, albeit symbolic, was again recorded.
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, which publishes the Japanese Mortality Database, in 2023 the total life expectancy was 84.14 years (81.10 for male and 87.16 for female). A detailed visualization of the figures from this database is below.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare gives figures for 2023 that differ only by hundredths of a year: 81.09 for male and 87.14 for female. Meanwhile, healthy life expectancy is 72.57 years for male and 75.45 years for female (for 2022). The ministry states that life expectancy and healthy life expectancy have been increasing almost in parallel since 2001 (the gap between them remains constant).
The main cause of death is declared to be cancer, which, masking aging, puts an end to life for 25.93% of men and 19.09% of women. If an effective treatment for all cancers is developed and the number of deaths from them is reduced to zero, it will give an increase in life expectancy by 3.16 years for male and 2.69 years for female. This is close to the assessment of South Korean demographers for their country, who claim that a complete victory over cancer will increase life expectancy in South Korea by 3.3 years.
Estimates of life expectancy in Japan from international agencies:
Japan had peak of life expectancy in 2020. So this year is emphasized in the table below.
Data source: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
Detailed data for 2023.
Data source: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
Data source: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
The percentage surviving, is the percent of the population that would survive to certain age, if their life conditions in a given year, were extrapolated to their whole life.
The values are rounded. Difference and ratio were calculated with raw data.
Data source: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
Prefectures by life expectancy at birth according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. The total life expectancy is calculated out of the averages for men and women.
Data source: Global Data Lab