Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan

Japan: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 82.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
82.3%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
14th
of 187 countries
All-time high
82.3%
in 2025
All-time low
70.2%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan, 1990–2025

0204060801990200720251990: 70.21991: 70.81992: 71.21993: 71.41994: 71.51995: 71.61996: 72.11997: 72.71998: 72.71999: 72.52000: 72.62001: 72.72002: 72.42003: 72.42004: 72.42005: 72.92006: 73.42007: 73.82008: 742009: 74.12010: 74.12011: 74.12012: 74.42013: 75.22014: 75.92015: 76.22016: 77.12017: 77.92018: 79.12019: 79.82020: 79.82021: 80.22022: 80.92023: 81.52024: 822025: 82.3

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan is 82.3%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan peaked at 82.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 70.2%, in 1990.

Japan ranks 14th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) in Japan, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 70.2%
1991 70.8% +0.8%
1992 71.2% +0.7%
1993 71.4% +0.2%
1994 71.5% +0.1%
1995 71.6% +0.2%
1996 72.1% +0.7%
1997 72.7% +0.8%
1998 72.7% +0.0%
1999 72.5% -0.2%
2000 72.6% +0.1%
2001 72.7% +0.2%
2002 72.4% -0.4%
2003 72.4% -0.1%
2004 72.4% +0.0%
2005 72.9% +0.7%
2006 73.4% +0.7%
2007 73.8% +0.6%
2008 74.0% +0.2%
2009 74.1% +0.1%
2010 74.1% -0.0%
2011 74.1% +0.1%
2012 74.4% +0.3%
2013 75.2% +1.2%
2014 75.9% +0.9%
2015 76.2% +0.4%
2016 77.1% +1.2%
2017 77.9% +1.0%
2018 79.1% +1.5%
2019 79.8% +0.9%
2020 79.8% +0.1%
2021 80.2% +0.5%
2022 80.9% +0.9%
2023 81.5% +0.7%
2024 82.0% +0.6%
2025 82.3% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 71.7% 70.2% 72.7% 10
2000s 73.1% 72.4% 74.1% 10
2010s 76.4% 74.1% 79.8% 10
2020s 81.1% 79.8% 82.3% 6

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 11 Nigeria 83.3% compare
  2. 12 Bahamas 82.9% compare
  3. 13 New Zealand 82.6% compare
  4. 15 Denmark 82.2% compare
  5. 16 Malta 81.6% compare
  6. 17 Uganda 81.2% compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More work & labour data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan was 82.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 2025.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 70.2% in 1990.
How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
Japan ranks 14th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. 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, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-64-modeled-ilo/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 8,446 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

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.