To investigate the incidence of cleft lip or palate or both (CLP) in Japan, 303 738 babies born in 1532 institutions between 1994 and 1995 were examined and 437 (0.14%) were found to have abnormalities, Of these babies, 32.1% had cleft lip, 43.3% had cleft lip and palate, and 24.8% had cleft palate (Table 2), These results show that the incidence of cleft lip and palate has declined compared with the period from 1981 to 1982. (C) 2000 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.