Female labor force participation rate in Japan
Japan: Female labor force participation rate was 56.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Female labor force participation rate in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Japan stood at 56.4%. 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 in Japan peaked at 56.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 1975.
Japan ranks 90th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 82.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 87.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Japan?
- Female labor force participation rate 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 recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 1975.
- How does Japan rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Japan ranks 90th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.