Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 77.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan is 77.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan peaked at 77.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 57.2%, in 1990.
Japan ranks 21st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.2% | — |
| 1991 | 58.0% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 58.3% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 58.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 58.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 58.5% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 59.0% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 59.7% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 59.8% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 59.6% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 59.6% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 60.1% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 59.9% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 60.3% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 61.0% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 61.6% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 62.1% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 62.5% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 63.0% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 63.1% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 63.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 63.7% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 65.3% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 66.3% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 66.9% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 68.2% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 69.6% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 71.4% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 72.7% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 73.3% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 74.5% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 75.5% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 76.5% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 77.0% | +0.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 77.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 71.9%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 77.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 64.4%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.7% | 57.2% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.0% | 59.6% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.0% | 63.1% | 72.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.9% | 72.6% | 77.0% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan was 77.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 77.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.2% in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Japan ranks 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.