Productivity: output per hour worked in Japan
Japan: Productivity: output per hour worked was 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
32nd
of 130 countries
All-time high
51.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 2010
All-time low
3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Productivity: output per hour worked in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per hour.
Analysis
In 2023, productivity: output per hour worked in Japan stood at 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, productivity: output per hour worked in Japan peaked at 51.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, in 1950.
That places Japan 32nd out of 130 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Productivity: output per hour worked in Japan, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | — |
| 1951 | 3.78 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.7% |
| 1952 | 4.1 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.7% |
| 1953 | 4.23 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 4.34 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 4.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 4.55 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 4.65 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 4.85 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 5.18 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.9% |
| 1960 | 5.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.4% |
| 1961 | 6.07 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.1% |
| 1962 | 6.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 7.01 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.9% |
| 1964 | 7.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 8.01 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 8.6 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.4% |
| 1967 | 9.19 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.9% |
| 1968 | 10.22 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +11.2% |
| 1969 | 11.36 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 12.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +10.1% |
| 1971 | 13.21 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 14.33 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 15.2 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 15.54 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 16.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.6% |
| 1976 | 17.29 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 18.23 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 19.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 20.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 21.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 21.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 21.06 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 20.64 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 20.64 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 21.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 23.33 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +9.0% |
| 1987 | 24.89 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 27.1 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 29.24 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 31.66 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 33.83 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 35.49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 37.55 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 38.22 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 40.2 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 42.3 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 42.64 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 42.91 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 43.71 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 45.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 45.43 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 46.57 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 47.32 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 48.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 49.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 49.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 50.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 50.23 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 49.36 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 51.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 51.01 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 50.72 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 50.89 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 51.1 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 50.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 49.26 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 48.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 48.81 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 48.22 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 48.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 48.2 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 95% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Japan's 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 2.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.36 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 5.18 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 5.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 11.36 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.28 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 12.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 20.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 20.64 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 29.24 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.85 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 31.66 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 43.71 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.15 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 45.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 50.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 48.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 51.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 48.2 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 29 Slovenia 51.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 30 Czechia 50.68 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 31 New Zealand 49.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 33 Lithuania 48 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 34 Romania 47.08 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 35 Georgia 46.89 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour 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 productivity: output per hour worked in Japan?
- Productivity: output per hour worked in Japan was 49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 51.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2010.
- What is the lowest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for productivity: output per hour worked?
- Japan ranks 32nd out of 130 countries with data for 2023.
- Is productivity: output per hour worked rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Productivity: output per hour worked. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Productivity is calculated as GDP divided by the total number of hours worked in the economy. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.