Japan median age by year, 1990 to 2023

Japan: 49.0 years in 2023. Median age peaked at 49.0 years in 2023 in this 1990–2023 series.

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What the data shows

Japan: 36.9 years in 1990, 49.0 years in 2023.
Italy: 36.1 years in 1990, 47.5 years in 2023.
Portugal: 33.2 years in 1990, 46.2 years in 2023.
Hong Kong: 29.9 years in 1990, 46.2 years in 2023 (1.5× higher).

About this chart

Japan's median age rose from 36.9 years in 1990 to 49.0 years in 2023. The oldest median age in the displayed estimates was 49.0 years in 2023. Its lowest median age in this window was 36.9 years in 1990. These figures describe the midpoint of the population's age distribution, not average age or expected lifespan.

Median age divides the population into equal younger and older halves. These UN World Population Prospects 2024 figures are estimates, both sexes combined; no projected years are included. In 2023, the comparison lines show Italy (47.5 years), Portugal (46.2 years) and Hong Kong (46.2 years). These peers have the closest latest values among reporting countries with over one million people and a continuous common history; they are not selected by geography.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data, median age in years, estimates only. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Median age divides the population into equal younger and older halves. These UN World Population Prospects 2024 figures are estimates, both sexes combined; no projected years are included. Peers are selected by proximity to the country's latest value among countries with over one million people and a continuous common series.

Japan: median age, years, 1990 to 2023; three nearest peers, 1990–2023
Date	🇯🇵 Japan	🇮🇹 Italy	🇵🇹 Portugal	🇭🇰 Hong Kong
1990	36.9 years	36.1 years	33.2 years	29.9 years
1991	37.3 years	36.5 years	33.6 years	30.5 years
1992	37.8 years	36.8 years	34.0 years	31.0 years
1993	38.2 years	37.1 years	34.4 years	31.5 years
1994	38.6 years	37.6 years	34.7 years	32.0 years
1995	39.0 years	37.9 years	35.1 years	32.6 years
1996	39.4 years	38.0 years	35.4 years	33.1 years
1997	39.7 years	38.3 years	35.7 years	33.6 years
1998	40.1 years	38.6 years	36.0 years	34.0 years
1999	40.4 years	38.9 years	36.4 years	34.5 years
2000	40.8 years	39.2 years	36.7 years	35.0 years
2001	41.1 years	39.6 years	37.0 years	35.6 years
2002	41.5 years	39.9 years	37.3 years	36.1 years
2003	41.8 years	40.2 years	37.7 years	36.6 years
2004	42.2 years	40.5 years	38.0 years	37.2 years
2005	42.6 years	40.8 years	38.4 years	37.7 years
2006	42.9 years	41.2 years	38.8 years	38.3 years
2007	43.2 years	41.5 years	39.2 years	38.7 years
2008	43.5 years	41.8 years	39.6 years	39.1 years
2009	43.9 years	42.2 years	40.0 years	39.5 years
2010	44.2 years	42.5 years	40.5 years	39.9 years
2011	44.5 years	42.9 years	40.9 years	40.3 years
2012	44.8 years	43.2 years	41.4 years	40.7 years
2013	45.1 years	43.6 years	41.8 years	41.0 years
2014	45.5 years	44.0 years	42.3 years	41.4 years
2015	45.8 years	44.4 years	42.8 years	41.7 years
2016	46.2 years	44.8 years	43.3 years	42.2 years
2017	46.5 years	45.2 years	43.7 years	42.7 years
2018	46.9 years	45.6 years	44.2 years	43.2 years
2019	47.3 years	46.0 years	44.6 years	43.8 years
2020	47.7 years	46.4 years	45.0 years	44.4 years
2021	48.1 years	46.8 years	45.4 years	45.0 years
2022	48.5 years	47.1 years	45.8 years	45.6 years
2023	49.0 years	47.5 years	46.2 years	46.2 years

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median age in Japan?

Japan's median age was 49.0 years in 2023, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024 estimates. Half the population was younger and half older than that age.

When was Japan's median age highest in this series?

The highest displayed value was 49.0 years in 2023. This comparison covers 1990 through 2023; it is not a claim about years outside the available series.

Why are these countries compared with Japan?

The comparison selects three countries with the closest 2023 values, among countries with over one million people and at least fifteen consecutive annual observations in common. The matching is based on the indicator level, not economic structure or geographic proximity.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data, median age in years, estimates only. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Median age divides the population into equal younger and older halves. These UN World Population Prospects 2024 figures are estimates, both sexes combined; no projected years are included. Peers are selected by proximity to the country's latest value among countries with over one million people and a continuous common series. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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