Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 71.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 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+) in Japan stood at 71.5%.
That represents a change of up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Japan peaked at 77.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 70.2%, in 2015.
Japan ranks 81st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 77.3% | — |
| 1991 | 77.5% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 77.9% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 77.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 77.7% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 77.5% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 77.6% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 77.6% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 77.2% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 76.8% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 76.3% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 75.6% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 74.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 74.0% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 73.3% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 73.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 73.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 73.1% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 72.6% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 72.0% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 71.5% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 71.1% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 70.7% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 70.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 70.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 70.2% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 70.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 70.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 71.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 71.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 71.2% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 71.4% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 71.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 71.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 71.5% | -0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 71.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 71.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72.0%, 99% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.5% | 76.8% | 77.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.8% | 72.0% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 70.2% | 71.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.4% | 71.2% | 71.5% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Japan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Japan was 71.5% 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+) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 77.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.2% in 2015.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Japan ranks 81st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.