Labor force participation rate in Japan
Japan: Labor force participation rate was 63.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
63.4%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
80th
of 186 countries
All-time high
64.0%
in 1992
All-time low
59.0%
in 2012
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Japan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Japan stood at 63.4%.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Japan peaked at 64.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 59.0%, in 2012.
That places Japan 80th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.4% | — |
| 1991 | 63.8% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 64.0% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 63.8% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 63.6% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 63.4% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 63.5% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 63.7% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 63.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 62.8% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 62.4% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 62.0% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 61.2% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 60.8% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 60.4% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 59.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 59.2% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 59.0% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 59.2% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 60.0% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 60.4% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 61.4% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 62.0% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 61.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 62.1% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 62.5% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 62.9% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 63.3% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 63.4% | +0.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 63.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 63.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 64.4%, 99% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.5% | 62.8% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.8% | 59.9% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.0% | 59.0% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.7% | 61.9% | 63.4% | 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 in Japan?
- Labor force participation rate in Japan was 63.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 64.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.0% in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for labor force participation rate?
- Japan ranks 80th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).