Employment rate, men vs. women in Japan
Japan: Employment rate, men vs. women was 69.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate, men vs. women in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in Japan stood at 69.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Japan peaked at 76.3% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 67.4%, in 2013.
Japan ranks 62nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 76.0% | — |
| 1992 | 76.3% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 76.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 75.5% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 75.1% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 75.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 75.0% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 74.0% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 73.1% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 72.6% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 71.6% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 70.5% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 69.9% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 69.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 70.2% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 69.6% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 68.2% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 67.6% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 67.4% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 67.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 67.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 67.7% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 68.4% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 69.2% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 69.2% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 69.0% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 69.3% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 69.4% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 69.6% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 69.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.1% | 73.1% | 76.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 70.2% | 68.2% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 67.4% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.4% | 69.0% | 69.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More work & labour data for Japan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5262 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4728 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.4618 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 103,039 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,756 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 39,867 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 36,979 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 76,846 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in Japan?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Japan was 69.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 76.3% in 1992.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.4% in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Japan ranks 62nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.