Life Simulator

Japan: what if you were born here?

Every year 749,884 babies are born here — 0.8% of the births across the game’s 30 countries.

84 yearsLife expectancy
71%Lived to 80
Be born hereBe born anywhere, by real birth odds

1,000 lives born here, lived by the game

Each life starts from this country’s births and makes the choices most people make. Shares of adults are of the lives that reached 30. Next to each figure: the same for babies born anywhere in the game’s 30 countries.

Average lifespan84.1 years30 countries 71.4 years
Lived to 8071.1%30 countries 40.5%
Ever married81%30 countries 93.2%
Children, on average1.1430 countries 2.54
Went to university55.6%30 countries 31.4%
Rose far above their start14.7%30 countries 7.4%
Moved abroad0.6%30 countries 2.3%

How these lives ended — the most common

  1. Other cardiovascular diseases15.5%
  2. Other cancers15.3%
  3. Other noncommunicable diseases13.5%
  4. Lower & upper respiratory infections10.1%
  5. Stroke8%

The most common work

  1. Office clerical16.4%
  2. Cooking9.5%
  3. Personal services9.3%
  4. Building trades7.5%
  5. Labouring5.8%

Official statistics

YearSource
Life expectancy at birth, women87.1 years2024World Bank WDI
Life expectancy at birth, men81.1 years2024World Bank WDI
Infant deaths per 1,000 births1.82024World Bank WDI
Deaths before 5 per 1,000 births2.42024World Bank WDI
Births per woman1.152024World Bank WDI
Income per person (GDP, PPP)$55,4222025World Bank WDI
Inequality (Gini index)32.32020World Bank WDI
Expected years of schooling15.5 years2023UNDP Human Development Report 2025 via Our World in Data
Living in cities92.3%2025World Bank WDI
Using the internet85.5%2024World Bank WDI
Life satisfaction (0–10)6.132025World Happiness Report
Military serviceNot compulsory2025CIA World Factbook, Military service age and obligation

Other countries

One life at a time, by real numbers

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