Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan
Japan: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 56.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
56.4%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
90th
of 194 countries
All-time high
56.4%
in 2025
All-time low
45.7%
in 1975
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Japan recorded 56.4% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan peaked at 56.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 1975.
That places Japan 90th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 54.5% | — |
| 1961 | 54.3% | -0.4% |
| 1962 | 53.4% | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 52.0% | -2.6% |
| 1964 | 51.1% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 50.6% | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 50.9% | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 51.2% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 50.7% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 50.1% | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 49.9% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 48.8% | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 47.7% | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 48.2% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 46.5% | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 45.7% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 45.8% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 46.6% | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 47.4% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 47.6% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 47.6% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 47.7% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 48.0% | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 49.0% | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 48.9% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 48.7% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 48.6% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 49.5% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 50.1% | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 50.7% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 50.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 50.3% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 50.2% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 50.0% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.0% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 50.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 50.1% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 49.6% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 49.3% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 48.5% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 48.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 48.4% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 48.8% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 49.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 49.5% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 50.3% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 51.1% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 52.4% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 53.3% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 53.1% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 53.5% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 54.2% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 54.8% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 55.6% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 56.4% | +1.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 56.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 99% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Japan's 56.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.1%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 51.9% | 50.1% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.4% | 45.7% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 48.5% | 47.6% | 49.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.2% | 49.6% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.2% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.9% | 48.1% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.6% | 53.1% | 56.4% | 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 female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Japan was 56.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 1975.
- How does Japan rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Japan ranks 90th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.