Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 87.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
87.5%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
13th
of 187 countries
All-time high
87.5%
in 2025
All-time low
83.0%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan stood at 87.5%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan peaked at 87.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 83.0%, in 1990.
Japan ranks 13th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.0% | — |
| 1991 | 83.2% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 83.9% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 84.3% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 84.3% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 84.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 84.9% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 85.3% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 85.3% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 85.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 85.3% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 85.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 84.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 84.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 84.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 84.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 85.0% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 85.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 85.0% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 84.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 84.8% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 84.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 85.0% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 85.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 85.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 85.8% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 85.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 86.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 86.7% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 86.8% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 86.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 87.2% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 87.4% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 87.4% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 87.5% | +0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 87.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 87.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 78.2%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.4% | 83.0% | 85.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 84.3% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.5% | 84.8% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 88.1% compare
- 11 Bahrain 87.9% compare
- 12 Malta 87.6% compare
- 14 Solomon Islands 87.4% compare
- 15 Switzerland 87.3% compare
- 16 Niger 86.7% compare
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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Japan was 87.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 87.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.0% in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Japan ranks 13th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.