“Old Age” Increasingly Cited as Cause of Death in Japan
As Japan’s population grows older and end-of-life care shifts away from hospitals, “old age” is being recorded with increasing frequency as a cause of death, even as cancer remains the country’s leading killer.
“Old age” is increasingly being cited as a cause of death in Japan. Health / Society - English - Japanese - Simplified Chinese - Traditional Chinese - French - Spanish - Arabic - Russian. Cancer remains the leading cause.
“Old Age” Increasingly Cited as Cause of Death in Japan Health Society- English - 日本語 - 简体字 - 繁體字 - Français - Español - العربية - Русский Cancer the Leading Cause
In 2025, according to a report by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, 1,589,489 people died in Japan. Although this represented a slight decline from the 1,605,378 deaths recorded in 2024, the figure remains high.
In 2025, there were 1,589,489 deaths in Japan, according to a report from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Although this was a slight decrease from the 1,605,378 deaths in 2024, the total remains high.
Cancer was the leading cause of death, with 378,812 deaths, or 317.3 deaths per 100,000 people. It was followed by heart disease, excluding hypertension, with 220,447 deaths, or 184.7 per 100,000; old age, with 214,711 deaths, or 179.9; and stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, with 100,355 deaths, or 84.1.
Cancer was the leading cause of death, at 378,812, or a total of 317.3 fatalities per 100,000 population. This was followed by heart disease (excluding hypertension) at 220,447 (184.7), old age at 214,711 (179.9), and strokes and other cerebrovascular disease at 100,355 (84.1).
Cancer has remained Japan’s leading cause of death since 1981. In 2025, it accounted for roughly one-quarter of all deaths, at 23.8%.
Cancer has remained the leading cause of death since 1981. In 2025, it accounted for around a quarter of all deaths, at 23.8%.
Heart disease, excluding hypertension, overtook stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases in 1985 to become the second leading cause of death, and in 2025 it accounted for 13.9% of all deaths. Old age, which had become less commonly cited as a cause of death in the postwar period, began rising again in 2001 and moved into third place in 2018. In 2025, it was listed as the cause in 13.5% of deaths. Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare guidance states that old age should be recorded as the cause of death when no other clear cause can be identified.
Heart disease (excluding hypertension) rose to second position in 1985, overtaking strokes and other cerebrovascular disease, and it accounted for 13.9% of deaths in 2025. Old age was becoming less common as a cause of death in the postwar era, but started rising again in 2001, moving into third place in 2018. It was stated as the cause of 13.5% of deaths in 2025. MHLW guidance states that old age should be recorded as the cause when there is no other clear cause of death.
One reason for the increase in deaths attributed to old age is the aging of Japan’s population: people aged over 80 now make up 10% of the total. Since the introduction of the long-term care insurance system, end-of-life care at home or in nursing facilities has also become more common, alongside a growing preference for dying peacefully rather than receiving life-prolonging treatment in hospitals.
One of the reasons for the increase in deaths attributed to old age is the graying of Japan’s population, with 10% of people now over 80. Since the introduction of the nursing care insurance system, it has also become more common to provide end-of-life care at home or in nursing facilities, with a growing preference for passing away peacefully rather than receiving life-prolonging treatments in hospitals.
Data sourcesData Sources
Public demographic statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (Japanese).
- Public demographic statistics (Japanese) from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare