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Japanese women held the top spot in global life expectancy rankings for the 41st consecutive year, according to data released Friday by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Average life expectancy for women rose by 0.20 years to 87.33 years in 2025. For men, it increased by 0.25 years to 81.35 years.
Both figures grew for the first time in two years, reversing a pandemic-era decline driven by COVID-19 deaths. The ministry attributed the rebound to falling mortality rates from cancer and COVID-19. Deaths from pneumonia and old age rose over the same period, partially offsetting those gains.
A ministry official credited “greater health awareness among the public and the high standard of medical care in Japan” as factors behind the continued improvement.
Where Japan Ranks Globally
South Korea ranked second among women at 86.6 years, followed by Spain at 86.53 years. Japanese men placed seventh, dropping one spot from sixth the previous year despite living longer. Sweden led men’s rankings at 82.52 years, with Switzerland at 82.4 years and Italy at 81.74 years.
The ministry’s annual abridged life table compiles estimates each year using population data. A complete life table is drawn from the national census, conducted every five years.
Cancer and Heart Disease Risks Are Falling
The ministry projected that Japanese female infants born in 2025 face a 39.70 percent risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease. The corresponding risk for male infants stands at 45.03 percent. Both figures dropped from the prior year, falling 0.59 percentage points for females and 0.38 for males.
Those projections point to a slow but measurable improvement in the country’s leading causes of death. Japan’s ability to sustain that trajectory depends on continued progress in early detection, treatment quality, and public health habits.
A Long Rise, With One Clear Challenge Ahead
Japan’s longevity record stretches back decades. Life expectancy exceeded 50 for the first time in 1947, reaching 50.06 years for men and 53.96 years for women. It climbed quickly as infant mortality dropped, infectious diseases came under control, and universal health insurance arrived in 1961.
By 2000, men were living to 77.72 years and women to 84.60 years on average. The latest figures show that Japanese men now live more than 31 years longer than their 1947 counterparts. Women live more than 33 years longer.
Despite the record, the ministry noted that life expectancy remains below pre-pandemic levels. Japan also faces a persistent gap between total lifespan and the years people can expect to live in good health, a challenge that longer lives alone do not resolve.
