Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 55.9% 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 55.9%, 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 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Japan peaked at 55.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 48.0%, in 2012.
Japan ranks 76th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 | 50.1% | — |
| 1991 | 50.6% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 50.3% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 50.1% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 49.9% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 50.3% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 50.1% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 49.5% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 49.2% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 48.5% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 48.3% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 48.4% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 48.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 48.3% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 48.0% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 48.7% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 49.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 49.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 50.2% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 51.0% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 52.4% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 53.2% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 53.1% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 53.5% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 54.2% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 54.8% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 55.6% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 55.9% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.2% | 49.5% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.5% | 48.2% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.9% | 48.0% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.5% | 53.1% | 55.9% | 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 55.9% 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 55.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.0% in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Japan ranks 76th 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 13.1%. 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.